Palmerston North Boys' High First XV 2026: reigning champions rebuild and stay in the Super 8 hunt

Palmerston North Boys' High School (PNBHS) is one of Manawatū's great rugby institutions, and the 2026 First XV have carried that tradition into a competitive Super 8 campaign while quietly rebuilding along the way.

A new-look side finds its feet

The Herald's Bruce Holloway and Adam Julian noted that the reigning Super 8 champions took the field in 2026 with "a completely new forward pack", led by No 8 Ollie Read. That is a big ask for any school side, and pre-season was understandably a work in progress: PNBHS won three of seven warm-up matches, including a spirited 45-17 comeback against Francis Douglas Memorial College after trailing 17-5.

Wallace Cup stays in Palmy

An early highlight came in May, when PNBHS retained the historic Wallace Cup with a 31-14 win over St Patrick's College, Silverstream in sideways rain and swirling wind. The Herald reported tries to Max Hill, Cole Cullen (two), Eric Miller and Cayden Pardey. The fixture is a Manawatū institution in its own right, dating back to 1933.

A tight Super 8 race

The Super 8 gathers eight of the strongest boys' schools across the central North Island, and 2026 has been closely fought from the outset. Through the early rounds the table was tightly bunched, with Hamilton Boys' High setting the pace and only a handful of points separating the contenders.

PNBHS showed their nerve in round four, edging Tauranga Boys' College 26-25 at home in a genuine cliffhanger. The Herald reported tries to flanker Jack Greaves, centre Cayden Pardey, tighthead Luke Inlenfeldt and second-five Eric Miller, whose 60-metre run followed a clever chip from first-five Micah Steinmetz. Tauranga struck back late, but the home side held on. That result left PNBHS in the mix on 15 points, well within striking range in a competition where every week reshuffles the ladder.

What's ahead

With a young pack maturing fast and a knack for tight finishes, PNBHS remain live contenders as the Super 8 heads towards its business end. For a side rebuilding while defending a title, staying in the hunt this deep into the season is a promising place to be.

Follow the team on the official PNBHS Rugby Facebook page and the school website at pnbhs.school.nz.

Standings and results reflect coverage up to the round-four wrap in late June 2026; the Super 8 table can shift quickly week to week.