Rugby Academy

To develop top quality students and rugby players who have the potential to represent the school at First XV level and beyond. To give our players top quality coaching and improve their rugby skills.

The Rugby Academy has classes twice a week at Year 9 concentrating on skill development, tactical awareness positional requirements and fitness training. At Year 10 there are one practical session and one theory session per week.

This programme concentrates on extending what the students have learned previously as well as introducing aspects of the tradition of rugby at MAGS and in New Zealand, nutrition, mental preparation, fitness testing, goal setting, team preparation, game tactics, game analysis and developing a good team culture. Outside coaches come in and run position specific training on a regular basis. The class also attends a Blues training once a year so they can experience how a professional athlete trains.

Year 9 Academy trials are held on testing day in November. The boys are required to participate in a number of skill, fitness and game scenarios. 30 boys will be selected for the Year 9 Academy.

Year 10 Academy trials are based on how the boys perform throughout the year in Year 9. The Rugby Director has the final decision on whether a boy will graduate through to the Year 10 Academy. All other boys wishing to enter the Year 10 Academy will be required to trial.

All boys must wear the school rugby shorts, socks and Academy shirt to every lesson.

Subject Fees = $40

Academy Shirt = $40

Rugby Shorts = $35

Rugby Socks = $10

In 2016 the Mount Albert Grammar School First XV won the Auckland 1A Championship, the Blues Regional Championship, and the New Zealand Secondary Schools Championship.

Subsequently, five members of the team were selected for the NZSS Rugby team and NZSS Barbarians – the most of any school. They helped both teams to win all their games against Australia at the end of 2016.

As New Zealand Champions, the MAGS First XV travelled to Japan in April 2017 for the Sanix Secondary Schools Rugby World Cup.

The MAGS Colts were runners-up to the New Zealand title in 2014 and 2015.

In the past few seasons many players from the Mount Albert Grammar School Rugby Academy have achieved representative honours. Steven Luatua was selected for the All Blacks in 2014 and 2016 and is a member of the Auckland Blues. Elias “Jack” Goodhue is playing for the Canterbury Crusaders. In the ITM Cup, Gafatasi Su’a represented Auckland, Milford Keresoma played for Canterbury, and Albert Nikoro represented Waikato.

Of the six playing fields at the school, two are dedicated to football and rugby. The Number One field has sand-carpeting, top-of-the-line drainage and computerised irrigation systems providing excellent all-year-round playing surfaces. There is also a large multi-sport Astroturf area.

There is a comprehensive exercise centre which includes a wide range of machines together with free weights. Training programmes are developed by the physical education staff and sports coaches.

Mount Albert Grammar School is one of the few state-funded schools with a boarding establishment.

Click here to find out about the School House boys’ hostel.

The Mt Albert YMCA and Uni Tech gyms are close by, which the boys use after school and before school. Memberships are available through contacting both gyms directly.