Napier Boys' High First XV 2026: a Super 8 season with real momentum

Napier Boys' High School's First XV have put together one of their most encouraging Super 8 campaigns in years, and mid-July feels like a good moment to look back at how the 2026 season has unfolded so far.

A rivalry win to build on

The Napier boys got their winter rolling with a 34-7 victory over neighbours Hastings Boys' High, as Hawke's Bay Today's Gary Hamilton-Irvine reported. First five-eighth Will Lovatt scored twice, halfback Harry Bain opened the scoring and set up a try with a flick pass, and Ollie Maclachlan, Brad Pearce and Cooper Kinnear also crossed. Co-captain Carter Pirie summed up the feeling simply: "It's a pretty good feeling, particularly after last year."

Straight to the top of the table

Napier then made it three wins from three, and hit the front of the Super 8, with a 40-17 result over Tauranga Boys' College. Hawke's Bay Today's Doug Laing noted that Napier raced out to a 14-0 lead inside 12 minutes and led 21-10 at the break, with hooker Harry Jones scoring twice in the first half and Lovatt contributing 15 points off the tee and with ball in hand. It was a statement result for a school still chasing its first Super 8 title since 2003.

Beating the defending champions

The standout performance came against Rotorua Boys' High, the reigning national schools champions who had won the Sanix World Rugby Youth tournament in Japan back in May. Napier ran in five tries in a 33-7 win, again reported by Doug Laing for Hawke's Bay Today. Left wing Riley Winchester crossed twice, with further tries to Carter Pirie, Charlie Worsnop and Sone Lumb-Peteli, and Napier had the bonus point wrapped up by a 26-7 half-time lead.

Where things stand

The Super 8 First XV competition has been tightly bunched at the top. Laing reported that after the Rotorua win Napier sat within two points of leaders Hamilton Boys' High and had opened a five-point gap over Rotorua, with rounds still to play. It has been a season of genuine belief for the Napier group.

What's ahead

The campaign now heads offshore: Hawke's Bay Today reported the First XV were bound for Queensland for three games in four days, taking in the Church Rugby Festival in Brisbane and a fixture against St Joseph's Nudgee College at the Nudgee Rugby Festival, a fine test against strong Australian and travelling opposition before the Super 8 run-in resumes.

Follow the team on the official Napier Boys' High Rugby Instagram @nbhsrugby or via the school website.