Christ's College First XV 2026: a proud Canterbury side that keeps swinging

Christ's College's First XV have been learning plenty the hard way in 2026, and the character they have shown along the way is exactly the sort of thing that makes a rugby programme proud.

The Christchurch side compete in the Canterbury Miles Toyota First XV Premiership, which Canterbury Rugby's Michael Sheat calls "the pinnacle of schoolboy rugby in our region". It is a demanding grade, and it comes hot on the heels of a big 2025 for the College, when the First XV reached the Premiership final after what the school describes as "an extraordinary semifinal comeback after trailing by 19 points with 15 minutes remaining". Following a run like that is never simple, and this year's squad has worn the challenge with real spirit.

College Day: down but never out

The season's showpiece is always the College match against Christchurch Boys' High, a fixture the NZ Herald notes dates back to 1892. This year's meeting, played at Christchurch Boys' on 2 June, went the hosts' way, but the story Christ's College can hold onto is one of grit. The Press headlined the day with the visitors' "plucky fightback", and the NZ Herald reported how College, led by captain and hooker Adriaan Pieter Van Wyk, refused to let the occasion run away from them, scoring twice in quick succession to close the gap and generate real momentum.

The Press recorded four Christ's tries on the day, with first-five Jackson Grace crossing twice and James Hunter and Henry Botherway also getting on the scoresheet. It was the kind of second-half surge that says a lot about a team's belief. RUGBE has already covered Christchurch Boys' side of the ledger in our Christchurch Boys' High season review; here the focus is squarely on how Christ's kept coming.

Bright moments in a tough grade

Beyond College Day, the First XV have taken their share of blows in a stacked Premiership, but the season has not been without reward. A standout was a one-point win over King's High School in Dunedin in the wider South Island competition, the sort of tight finish that steels a young group. There was also a nip-and-tuck contest with Otago Boys' High School in early May, another reminder that this side is rarely far away when the margins are thin.

What's ahead

With plenty of the winter still to run, there is time to keep building combinations and confidence, and a clear carrot on the horizon: the NZ Herald reports that Christ's College will host the next College match in 2027. Add in the traditional Quadrangular tournament alongside Nelson College, Wellington College and Whanganui Collegiate, and there is no shortage of proud occasions left for this group to chase.

For a side getting its education in one of the country's toughest schoolboy grades, the willingness to keep swinging is the best foundation of all. Follow the team on Instagram @cc1stxv and on Facebook at Christ's College Rugby.