Sports Programme 2022

2022 is shaping up to be an exciting year with many new offerings to our sports programme. Undoubtedly Covid's impact will challenge us at some point in the classroom and on the sports fields and courts, but our students are resilient, our coaches are adaptable and together we will work hard to achieve – no matter what the season looks like or obstacles we may face.

Football Academy

We are very excited to have secured the services of Mr McMurdoch, who will oversee our new football academy. Mr McMurdoch is a UEFA A Licenced Coach. He has over 30 years of qualified experience both here in NZ and abroad, so our football academy is in very good hands. Mr McMurdoch will be supported by Mr Sheldon, and training will be Monday and Friday mornings before school for Years 7 and 8. We endeavour to work with a group of committed students who will be able to do well at the AIMS games this year.

Cricket

What an excellent start to the season for our 1st XI, who in 2022 have moved up into the Senior T20 A grade - this is no easy feat. With many students new to the sport, we have our work cut out for us, but judging by the first game, we are well on our way to not only competing in this grade, but experiencing success with well-earned victories.

Solomon Nash scored 50 runs at our first home game vs an experienced Auckland Grammar School team. Enoka Sului hit a memorable 6 with the ball landing somewhere between our fields and Ponsonby Road! Deputy Head Prefect, Jaydee Auloa worked hard at training, playing his first ever cricket game on Saturday. Not one to step back from a challenge, Jaydee kept the wickets with an impressive debut taking two catches! Well done gentlemen. Despite a narrow loss, losing in the last over, it was a great game where we showed we compete with the best.

Thank you to Mr Ryan who this year will oversee cricket at St Paul's.

Touch

Our senior touch team is once again in College Sport's Premier Grade where a young team, led by Steven Moala, had it's first games this week. Going down to Westlake Boys High School, but collecting a win vs Dilworth School.

What a privilege for this team to be coached by Junior Fiu (Old Boy and board member) and John Mana (Old Boy and NZ touch rep). This group is mostly Year 11's playing against older opposition at the highest level. With more training under our belt, I'm very confident we will be vying for a semi finals spot in six weeks time.

Thanks also to Mrs Fiu for managing this team and Mr Hamiora for his years of service to our touch programme.

Senior Volleyball

It's been over five years since Volleyball has been a feature of St Paul's sports offerings, and with the addition of new nets on the outdoor courts, we've seen a noticeable increase in interest in the code. Our senior volleyball team, led and driven by Zylus Tamalii and Shemaiah Foti, started their season with a close win over Auckland Grammar School and a comprehensive victory over St Peter's College – what an outstanding debut from this team, once again highlighting that our young men are capable of achieving in any sport if they apply themselves and commit to training.

We look forward to watching this team progress through the season, where our ambitious goal is to qualify for Auckland's Premier volleyball grade in 2023. Thank you to Mr Marvin Niuula and Mr Taito for coaching and managing this team respectively.

Basketball

Mr Jebb is accepting registrations for students interested in playing basketball, which begins in Term 2. Our basketball programme continues to flourish under his expert guidance and committed preparation. With many initiatives already in planning, I'm excited to see our basketballers step up another level in 2022.

Well done to the students who worked hard over the summer break with an eye on improved performance this season, very impressive.

College Sport Vaccine Mandates

College Sport has mandated vaccine passports for all participants in all sports/grades in 2022. Please be aware of this as your son will need to be able to show his vaccine passport on his phone (or printed/laminated) to be eligible for competition. He must be double jabbed and this applies for College Sport competitions for Year 9 and above, regardless of his age.

Thank you to families who have filled out their son's permission slips via Google Forms already. These mandates also apply to coaching staff and parent volunteers.

Sports Fees

This year we are excited to provide new sports equipment for all teams: training and match balls, modern uniform, bats, protective equipment, gear bags, well-stocked first aid kits, cones, whistles, volleyball nets, badminton rackets, basketballs, touch, rugby and league balls - the list goes on. These things are not free and we need families to pay their son's sports fees to help our efforts. Sports fee information is in the Google Forms sent home when a student registers for a team.

Once again, thank you to families who are already fulfilling this obligation - we want to provide functional, modern sports equipment which puts us in the strongest position possible to practice, enhance skills and ultimately compete at the highest level. For us to do this, we need your support in paying your son's sports fees.

Join Our Coaching Staff

At St Paul's College, we enroll the family and our sports teams are no different. We are always looking for committed coaches, managers, trainers or sports volunteers to get involved and join our sports coaching staff. Experience isn't necessary - just reliability and a positive attitude; there is a role for everyone. If this sounds like something you'd be interested in, please get in touch. What better way to support your son and his college by being part of his team.