1st XV Rugby Competition
The Central North Island (CNI) 1st XV Rugby competition was established in 2012 and originally consisted of seven schools - Feilding, Francis Douglas, Lindisfarne, Rathkeale, St John's (Hastings), St Paul's and Whanganui - that were interested in enhancing their rugby programme. In 2013 St. Peter’s School from Cambridge joined the CNI Rugby Competition, in 2016 Wesley College become part of the CNI group, in 2018 St. John’s College (Hamilton) and from 2026 Matamata College will compete for the first time.
The aim of the competition is to provide 1st XV teams from the ten schools with a consistently high standard of challenging rugby fixtures.
In its inaugural year, the Taine Randall Cup was donated by Lindisfarne College and they were the winners’ of the competition after a six-game round robin competition. An eight team competion occured in 2013 and Francis Douglas Memorial College with a very strong side won the Competition. St Paul's Collegiate had a 3 year reign of domination from 2014 to 2016 in the Championship. In 2017 after a round robin, Feilding High School and Wesley College contended a hard-fought final which was deservedly won by Wesley College (32-28).
A brief respite from continued St Paul's form that saw them win 3 more championships and share the title in 2020 with St Peter's with a 36 all tied match. Since 2022 Feilding High has risen to contest all finals with 3 of them against St John's College and one against St Peter's School. St John's interupted the run of FAHS victories with a 42-33 win in 2024.
We hope that you enjoy the exploits, triumphs and disappointments of the ten proud rugby schools that make up the CNI 1st XV rugby competition.
Taine Randell Cup: Championship Trophy
The CNI Rugby Champions are awarded the Taine Randell Cup named after the All Black captain who played 61 games for the All Blacks including 51 tests with 22 as captain.
As a student of Lindisfarne College in the Hawkes Bay from 1987-1991 Randell was a natural athlete who excelled as a rugby player, cricketer, athlete (still holding the junior shot put record) and student, playing 41 games for the 1st XV scoring 19 tries and captaining the team in 1991.
A versatile loose forward and Number 8 he played for Otago in the National Provincial Championship at the age of 19 while completing degrees in law and commerce and then captained the Highlanders in the Super 12 and then Super 14 from 1997-2003.
Randell played for almost every NZ representative team. The New Zealand Secondary Schools in 1990, NZ U/17 (‘91), NZ U/19yr (’92), NZ Colts (‘93,’94,’95), NZ Universities (‘92-‘94), NZ Maoris (‘94-‘95) and the All Blacks (1995-2002). He played 61 games for the All Blacks including 51 Test Matches with 22 as captain. He scored 12 tries totalling 60 points.
He was a very young All Black playing his first game aged 20 and becoming All Black captain at just 21 years of age. He was selected as captain by new coach John Hart causing some public controversy due to his youth. Randell led the All Blacks through a challenging period following the retirement of a number of experienced players and the national team struggled in a period of rebuilding but was also involved in a number of notable test wins. The shock loss to France in the 1999 World Cup resulted in him losing the captaincy but he remained a member of the All Blacks until 2002. He also played in the UK for the Saracens Club before returning to the Hawkes Bay where he is now a prominent businessman.
Randell exemplified many of the qualities of a sportsman and man that are developed in the CNI Schools. He had an excellent academic record, showed outstanding leadership, determination, resilience, courage and loyalty. Randell remains a proud New Zealander and is active in both rugby and the wider Hawkes Bay community. It is an honour for the 1st XV’s of our schools and colleges to compete for a cup carrying the name of such a player and leader.
Championship Title Holders
2012 - Lindisfarne College - topped the table.
2013 - Francis Doulas Memorial College 25-21 win over St Paul's
2014 - St Paul's Collegiate School 32- 14 win over FDMC
2015 - St Paul's Collegiate School 35-19 win over FAHS
2016 - St Paul's Collegiate School 30-16 win over St Peter's
2017 - Wesley College 32-28 win over FAHS
2018 - St Paul's Collegiate School 24-17 win over FAHS
2019 - St Paul's Collegiate School 26-14 win over WCS
2020 - St Paul's Collegiate/St Peter's School 36 all draw
2021 - St Paul's Collegiate School 33-10 win over WCS
2022 - FAHS Feilding High School 33-22 win over SJC (Ham)
2023 - FAHS Feilding High School 24-17 win over SJC (Ham)
2024 - St John's College (Hamilton) 42-33 win over FAHS
2025 - FAHS Feilding High School 48-12 win over St Peter's
Titles
7 - St Paul's Collegiate School*
3 - FAHS Feilding High School
1 - Lindisfarne College
1 - Francis Douglas Memorial College
1 - Wesley College
1 - St Peter's School*
1 - St John's College (Hamilton)
*2020 title shared following 36 all draw in final.
Rick T. Francis Memorial Shield: Challenge Shield
In addition to the Championship Trophy, the Rick Francis Memorial Shield is played for. The Rick Francis Memorial Shield was donated by Feilding High School in 2014. The shield is played for each time the holder is playing a CNI fixture.
Mr Rick Francis was one of the driving forces behind FAHS rugby as a competitive entity. Mr Francis was employed by FAHS from 1997 by Principal Roger Menzies and for much of his time at the school was the Hostel Manager. He and Braedon Whitelock nurtured the FAHS 1st XV from a side that only competed locally into a side that would take on the nation's finest. He had a significant influence on the careers of Aaron Smith, the Whitelock brothers and the Crosswell brothers.
Rick was a noted sportsman himself representing Wairarapa in Cricket and Rugby and was an aclaimed coach in Hockey and Cricket.
His commitment to sport and excellence will be remembered, along with his quotes.
'BTB' - Better Than Before.
"Look Good, Feel Good, Play Good"
Rick Francis passed away in November 2012.
Rick Francis Memoral Shield End of Season Holders
2014 -Lindisfarne College
2015 - St Paul's Collegiate School
2016 - St Paul's Collegiate School
2017 - Wesley College
2018 - St Paul's Collegiate School
2019 - St Paul's Collegiate School
2020 - St Paul's Collegiate School
2021 - St Paul's Collegiate School
2022 - FAHS Feilding High School
2023 - FAHS Feilding High School
2024 - St John's College (Hamilton)
2025 - FAHS Feilding High School
Memorial Shield Match Wins/ Defences *
42 - St Paul's Collegiate School
28 - FAHS Feilding High School
19 - St Peter's School
8 - St John's College (Hamilton)
7 - Lindisfarne College
7 - Wesley College
6 - Whanganui Collegiate School
3 - Francis Douglas Memorial College
Note - to the end of 2025
Shield Change Sequence
2014 - FAHS, FDMC, LC
2015 - LC, SPC
2016 - SPC
2017 - SPC, Wesley, FAHS, Wesley
2018 - Wesley, FDMC, FAHS, SPC
2019 - SPC, WCS, FAHS, SPC
2020 - SPC, SJC(Ham), Wesley, SPC
2021 - SPC, SPS, WCS, SPC
2022 - SPC, SJC(Ham), FAHS
2023 - FAHS, SPS, SJC(Ham)
2024 - FAHS, SJC(Ham)
2025 - SJC(Ham), WCS, SPS, FAHS
CNI Plate: Playoff Team Challenge
Following the interuptions caused by COVID a Plate final was introduced for teams ranked 5th to 8th to compete for in the playoff rounds.The winner of the 5th vs 6th final will win the Plate.
Although the competition is into only its 14th season, players from the competing schools have already been selected for their respective regional Super Rugby franchise development, New Zealand Secondary Schools’ and New Zealand U20 teams.
Plate
2022 - Whanganui Collegiate School
2023 - Francis Douglas Memorial College
2024 - St Peter's Cambridge
2025 - St Paul's Collegiate School
