Wellington College crowned champions as 100th Quadrangular lights up Whanganui Collegiate

A hundred years of school rugby history came together on the banks of the Whanganui River in June, and Wellington College made sure their name went on the honours board, beating Nelson College 43-13 in the final of the 100th Quadrangular Tournament at Whanganui Collegiate School.

The Quad, contested by Wellington College, Nelson College, Christ's College and Whanganui Collegiate, is described as the world's oldest college rugby tournament of its kind. Ahead of the event, the Whanganui Chronicle's Fin Ocheduszko Brown reported on what hosting meant to the school. "It's a huge honour. There is a lot of pride and a lot of anticipation amongst the community," headmaster Ainsley Robson told the Chronicle.

On day one, Wellington College accounted for the hosts 50-10 and Nelson College edged clear of Christ's College 48-29, NZ Rugby reported. The weather was cold and wet, but it did not dampen the occasion. The Chronicle reported a large crowd of families and old boys from all four schools. "It's definitely a special moment for them all; it's a big drawcard," parent Ray McDougall told the Chronicle, while 1990 old boy Richard Anderson said, "It was quite an occasion. It's nice to come back."

Saturday's finals day delivered a gem in the playoff, with Christ's College and Whanganui Collegiate sharing a thrilling 21-21 draw, only the fifth in the 72-game history between the two schools, according to NZ Rugby. In the final, Wellington hooker Noah Sipeli and prop Harry Baddington each scored twice and first five-eighth Joe Barry landed four conversions as Wellington claimed their 34th outright title and their first since 2023. "Part of history. I have no words. Yeah, nah, happy with this group," Wellington captain Z'kdeus Schwalger told Sky Sport, as reported by NZ Rugby.

The centenary trimmings were special too. Around 93 Nelson College old boys gathered for a reunion dinner, some travelling from Melbourne and Brisbane, the Chronicle reported, while the Collegiate gymnasium was filled with photo montages from a century of tournaments and a packed temporary grandstand lined the embankment.

For the hosts, there was plenty to be proud of beyond the scoreboard. Captain James Olds, playing his third Quad, summed it up before kick-off: "There's a lot of tradition within those 100 [tournaments] and I think everyone feels quite excited to be a part of that," he told the Chronicle. NZ Rugby notes these four schools have produced roughly eight per cent of all All Blacks, and on this evidence, the next hundred years are in good hands.