Quadrangular Tournament – 100 on the board
23 Jun 2026
College Archivist Anne Gabrielsson looks back on 100 years of the Quadrangular Tournament.
Matches between Christ’s College and Wellington College began in 1884, kicking off one of New Zealand’s oldest school sporting traditions. The Christ’s College 1890 Games Committee Minutes record plans to expand the fixture list, with discussions about playing Wellington College, Wanganui (now Whanganui) Collegiate School, and Nelson College during a northern tour. While Nelson College did not line up, the foundation for a larger tournament was laid.
In 1925, Nelson College officially joined the competition, creating the Quadrangular Tournament. Hosted by Wellington College, the teams faced wind and rain-affected games. Christ’s College struggled in the conditions, losing to Wanganui Collegiate School and Nelson College, while Wellington College emerged victorious through strong forward play.
Early players faced challenges beyond their opponents. Heavy knitted jerseys, leather boots, and waterlogged leather rugby balls ensured the games were physically gruelling. Before modern kicking tees, players improvised by using mounds of sand or even the heel marks of their boots to steady the ball when kicking for goal.
Despite these trials, the Quadrangular Tournament has endured as a symbol of tradition and resilience in interschool rugby rivalry.
Over a century, supremacy has shifted. Nelson College has dominated in recent decades. It also celebrated particularly strong eras in the 1940s and 1960s. Wellington College enjoyed an excellent early 2000s to 2010s era. Meanwhile, Christ’s College and Whanganui Collegiate School remained well-matched, with the former last winning the tournament in 2018.
Overall records
Christ’s College – 83 wins, 101 defeats, 14 draws
Wellington College –110 wins, 72 defeats, 16 draws
Nelson College – 95 wins, 87 defeats, 16 draws
Whanganui Collegiate – 78 wins, 106 defeats, 14 draws
A new exhibition in the Christ’s College Museum celebrates the Quad Tournament, with the Quad 100 to be hosted by Whanganui Collegiate School from 17–20 June.