There’s a school rugby coach in east Auckland who can possibly boast a higher winning percentage than former All Blacks coaches Sir Graham Henry and Sir Steve Hansen.
Teacher Gareth Rossiter has coached the hugely successful Owairoa Primary School rugby team for the past 14 seasons.
Their last loss was in 2019 and since then they’ve won 33 games in a row. The school points out the most tests Sir Graham Henry won in a row is 15 while Sir Steve Hansen once had 18 consecutive victories.
During this season’s school competition the Owairoa Primary School rugby team defeated challengers including Wakaaranga Primary School, Elm Park School, Pakuranga Heights School, Sunnyhills School and Cockle Bay School.
They then overcame Shelly Park School in the semi-final and Maraetai Beach School in the final.
“We won the HPPA (Howick Pakuranga Principals Association) interschool rugby competition for the second year running,” Rossiter says.
“We went through the round-robin and didn’t get a try scored against us that first day, and every other game was a big win of nine or 12 tries to nil.”
He says the team are fortunate many of their players, such as standouts Ben Hunkin and captain Connor Thompson, also represent Pakuranga United Rugby Club.
“These guys haven’t lost a game for their club in three years,” Rossiter says.
“My whole forward pack for the school is the same forward pack that they play together on the weekend.”
Rossiter jokingly says that helps him as a coach as it makes his statistics look great.
“The Pakuranga coach is doing all the world and I’m just taking the accolades.
“We’ve got a lot of experience through the team. Next year will be a different story because all these year-sixes are going off to intermediate school, but we’ve got some year-four and -fives coming through. Hopefully we can continue our growth.”
The quiet and humble duo of Ben and Connor agree it’s the effort the team puts out on the field that makes them so hard to beat, and their goal is to win every game.
Their coach says his players gel together well and they get on away from the field also.
“These boys don’t just play rugby together. They spend every minute of their lives together outside school.
“They’re all in the same class and they’re all best mates hanging out on the weekend.
“They know each other so well. It’s teamwork, knowledge of one another, but they also work hard.”
And in what’s possibly the highest compliment a rugby coach can bestow on a player, Rossiter says he’s always told Connor he’s like a “little Richie McCaw”.
“He doesn’t stop running. He talks a lot and barks at his team if they’re doing the wrong thing.
“Ben is the most fearless player I’ve ever coached. Nothing hurts him. He goes head-first into everything and he does a good job.
“They’re a very determined bunch of kids, but it’s not just rugby. They’re both in the school netball team as well. The hand-eye co-ordination is incredible with these kids.
“They’re awesome kids and very easy to work with. They’re so coachable too. No one mucks around on the team.”
