Rathkeale College First XV 2026: a proud Wairarapa side right in the mix in the Wellington Premiership

The Rathkeale College First XV have quietly become one of the stories of the 2026 Wellington schoolboy season. Based in Masterton in the Wairarapa, the boys' Anglican school is only in its second season in the Tranzit Coachlines Premiership, and by mid-July they had climbed into the competition's top group.

A second season to remember

Rathkeale are one of ten schools in the 2026 Premiership, which kicked off in the third week of May, according to College Sport Wellington. The line-up also includes St Patrick's College Silverstream, Wellington College, St Pat's Town, Scots College, neighbours Wairarapa College, Hutt International Boys' School, Rongotai College, St Bernard's College and Mana College. College Sport Wellington noted that Rathkeale are "tough, especially playing at home" as they settle into their second campaign at this level.

That home form has helped Rathkeale stay near the top of a strong table. By mid-season the Premiership standings reported by ClubRugby.nz had Wellington College out in front on 24 points, Silverstream next on 20, and Rathkeale sitting third on 19, level with St Pat's Town. For a school in only its second year among Wellington's biggest rugby names, keeping that sort of company is a real marker of how far the programme has come.

Local pride and big occasions

Some of the season's best moments have come close to home. In June the competition brought the local derby to Masterton, with neighbours Wairarapa College hosting Rathkeale in a fixture ClubRugby.nz flagged as one of the weekend's highlights. Derbies like this, played in front of two school communities, are exactly the kind of occasion that make Wairarapa rugby special.

The side has also earned time in the spotlight beyond the region. Their round-nine clash with competition leaders Wellington College was picked up for broadcast and streamed to a wider audience via Sky and Huddy Sports, a nice reward for a group who, in their debut Premiership season in 2025, pushed all the way into the knockout stages, as NZ Herald reporting noted of a well-established programme led by long-serving head of rugby Deon van Deventer.

What's ahead

With the Premiership moving through its championship rounds, Rathkeale have every chance to stay in the hunt as the season builds towards the play-offs. For a Wairarapa school going toe-to-toe with Wellington's traditional powerhouses, it has already been a campaign to be proud of.

Follow the team's journey through the run home on the official Rathkeale College 1st XV Instagram (@rathkeale1stxv).

Season details drawn from College Sport Wellington and ClubRugby.nz. Hero photo: Rathkeale College.