Badminton 

The badminton team has seen major improvements in both commitment and ability. Many of the players on both the senior and junior team have played incredibly well so far this season, however there are three that have stood out. In the senior team, Josiah Va'ai Tup'ai and the captain of the team, Miguel Gazo, both of whom are Year 11. In the junior team we have Neil Fernandes (Year 10), who has helped drive the junior team. Overall, the team has seen considerable progress, and we hope to keep it that way.

Josh Benoza (Year 11) - Badminton Coordinator

Basketball 

1st V basketball are playing well, they have had close results against Kaipara, St Peters, and Lynfield. Stand-out performers have been Leaam Kelemete (Year 12) and Ethan Ropati-Delaney (Year 13). 

U17s have started to find their form, and with two tough losses to start, the team has now found their grove. Soloman Nash (Year 12) has been a standout, carrying the team, and Nico Smith (Year 12), has started to settle in as the starting point guard and learning to lead the team. 

Our three U15s have had some great results, showing fight, energy and competitiveness. Preston Stanley, a Year 9 student, has set the standard and tone for the whole age group, his skill, speed, and shooting ability are one for all players to aspire to. Larenz Pua and Malakai Kurata-Lafaele (both Year 10) have stepped up to play extremely well.

Central Zone Open Rugby  

Well done to the Central Zone Open Rugby Team, who played in a warm-up game vs Royal Oak and in the Central Zone Tournament on Wednesday 31 May. Stand-out players Lebron Loia with some fantastic tackles, Jariyus Mauai-Makatuki has led the charge with furious runs breaking tackles and scoring tries.

Rugby League Season Begins 

College Rugby League season is finally upon us, a code which many St Paul's alumni have experienced great success with long and decorated careers as professionals. Stacey Jones ONZM, Nigel and Joe Vagana, Jerome Ropati, Elijah Taylor are all famous Kiwis, while in the modern era, Bunty Afoa is a Samoan representative and fan favourite at Mt Smart Stadium. Former Deputy Head Prefect Siliva Havili has been instrumental in Mate Ma'a Tonga's rise on the international stage, and led the Sipi Tau against Australia at a sold out Eden Park in Tonga's famous victory over the Kangaroos. 

Stacey Jones played 48 tests for the Kiwis.
Nigel Vagana played 37 tests for the Kiwis.

Not many families know that even Ben Teo, who represented Queensland, Australia, and later the English rugby team and British Lions, was a member of St Paul's 1st XV and 1st XIII once upon a time.

This season St Paul's will enter three teams into College Sport competition, Premier 1st XIII as well as two U15s teams, which is now 13-a-side. It is a goal to also send an U15 team to the NZRL National Secondary Schools tournament in September, this would be a first for St Paul's and something to work towards for our aspiring Year 9 and Year 10 students.