Terms 2 and 3 (Winter)
College rugby teams compete in local CRFU club and school competitions, while the 1st XV plays in the Crusaders region Miles Toyota 1st XV competition.
College rugby teams also compete in several inter-school fixtures. Highlights include the annual fixtures against Christchurch Boys’ High School, which is played in Term 2, and Otago Boys’ High School. There is also a Quadrangular Tournament with Nelson College, Wellington College and Whanganui Collegiate. The U15 team plays in an eight-team South Island-wide competition during Winter Tournament week and the U16 team plays in a Quadrangular tournament, also in Winter Tournament week.
Master-in-Charge: Stephen Dods – Venue: Upper, Christ's College Cricket Grounds, Bob Deans, North Hagley (Carlton Corner)
Training: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday
Uniform: College rugby jersey, socks and black shorts
Recent Success
2023
- Five out of nine teams in the finals, and four teams winning their divisions
- Five College players selected for the Junior Crusaders squad
2022
- A player selected for the NZSS rugby team to play Fiji
- Four College players selected for the Junior Crusaders squad
- U15 team 3rd in the South Island Invitational tournament
- U16 team winner of the Invitational Quadrangular tournament
- Twelve College players selected for the Canterbury Metro U16 Red & Black teams to attend the South Island tournament.
2021
1st XV – winner of the Jock Hobbs Memorial Trophy against Christchurch Boys’ High School in the annual match
1st XV – runner-up in the Miles Toyota Championship
U15A – winner of the Metro U15 Section One
2020
- 1st XV – winner of the Jock Hobbs Memorial Trophy against Christchurch Boys’ High School in the annual match
- Two players selected for the NZ Schools Barbarians U18 squad
Rugby Coaching Staff
Stephen Dods
Master-in-charge
Stephen Dods
Master-in-charge
From 1987–1991, Stephen Dods was a Canterbury rugby representative. He relocated to Ireland in 1992, playing for Leinster, coaching professionally and working as director of sport for the Royal College of Surgeons.
Stephen returned to Christchurch in 2000, and established a high-performance sports consultancy.
He coached the Teikyo Daigaku (university) team in Tokyo, taking them to number one in Japan, as well as the Canon Eagles, a Japanese Top League team. He joined College as Assistant to the Director of Sport and Master-in-Charge of Rugby in 2015.
Sam Broomhall
1st XV Coach
Sam Broomhall
1st XV Coach
Another amazing addition to the Christ’s College rugby programme, Sam Broomhall was a dynamic player in the back row.
He represented Canterbury, playing 48 matches, before making his debut for the Crusaders in 2001 and playing 44 matches during a four-year period.
A year later, he was named in the New Zealand side and played four international matches. He then went overseas and played for French side Clermont Auvergne from 2005 to 2008. After his rugby career, he returned to Canterbury to work with his brother in the irrigation and pump industry.
Sam is with our 1st XV this season.
Sam Chamberlain
1st XV Coach
Sam Chamberlain
1st XV Coach
During his senior school years, Sam was a prolific sportsman – as a member of both the 1st XV and 1st XI in 2010 and 2011.
After secondary school, he headed north to Wellington, where he studied for a commerce degree. It was here his rugby potential grew, being selected for New Zealand Universities in 2015.
His rugby journey continued in 2016, making the Wellington B side after being an integral part of the Old Boys University Jubilee Cup-winning team.
Sam relocated to the Tasman district, where he continued to play club rugby for Stoke, earning a spot in the Tasman wider training group.
His greatest rugby achievement came in 2018 when he captained the Tasman Sevens team to a national title. Sam is now back home in Canterbury, working as a successful sales consultant for Bayleys.
Sam works alongside Sam Broomhall with the 1st XV squad.
Reuben Thorne
2nd XV Coach
Reuben Thorne
2nd XV Coach
Between 1997–2008, Reuben Thorne gave Canterbury, the Crusaders and the All Blacks exemplary service, as a powerful player and successful leader and mentor. He was in the Canterbury side that won the Ranfurly Shield in 2000 and three national provincial championships, and captained the Crusaders to the Super 12 title in 2002. His record as an All Black stands at 50 tests played (22 as captain) for 42 wins and eight losses.
Reuben left New Zealand in 2008 to take up a contract with Yamaha Jubilo in Japan. Since returning to Christchurch in 2010, he has focused on his coaching career. As well as being a College rugby coaching consultant, Reuben is also the forwards coach for Canterbury.