2023 Canterbury Rugby Awards - School of the Year Finalists

The School of the Year will be future focused; innovating and challenging the norm while providing a structure and environment that attracts and includes participants of all skill levels and diversities. The School of the Year will cultivate a lifelong love of rugby no matter the level of ability, aspiration and involvement. 

There are two finalists for School of the Year, both nominated for their all round efforts to bolster rugby in their communities.

Christchurch Girls’ High School

Christchurch Girl’s High have fostered a successful team culture across it’s teams, supplying girls’ wanting to play rugby with a range of options to ensure as many players as possible can try rugby. They have done this with widespread success too, maintaining their winning run in the Miles Toyota Cup, while also representing the South Island at the Top 4 National Championships this year.

St Thomas of Canterbury College

As a parent following from the outside, I’ve been so impressed with the St Thomas rugby programme and what it is delivering not just on the field in terms of outstanding results across the entire program, but what's most impressive is the structure that supplies quality coaching and management structure's across all grades of participation. This enables the kids to develop into not just quality skilled teams and players but the STC philosophy is to grow good young men and create a journey and pathway in life. St Thomas rugby program has seen a significant improvement in not just on field results but by engaging and bringing the wider community together to enjoy the game and teach our kids that hard work on and off the field is paramount to the building blocks of life. Has been awesome to observe the STC Rugby programs inclusivity and diversity of various ethnicities.