Page 48 - NHS Beyond the Classroom

1st XV Rugby Tour of Asia 1983

Rear: Adam Begbie, Grant Stokes, Clifford McRoberts, Robin Benny, Steven Chrystall, W Muru,
Stephen Johnstone.
Row 3: Mauri Abrahams [Asst’ Manager/Coach], Evan Stokes, Blair Lovell, Jeffrey Robinson,
Duane Griffiths, Bruce Sargeant, Nigel Edmonds, Steven Crowther,
John Clayton [Supporters Leader].
Row 2: Martin Weren [Tour Manager], Tony Head, John Wilson, Geoffrey Owens, Maurice Haehae,
Michael Brown, Alan Evitts, Peter Gill, Whiti Tukere, Chris Grinter [Coach].
Seated: M Matenga, Rodney McIntosh, Paul Hodgkinson, Joseph Tahana, Neville Murphy [Principal],
Keith Robertson, John Bradshaw, Brett Rakena, Bruce Smith.

Results: v English School Jahor Bahru 32-0, v Raffles Institution 15-10, v Penang Tech’ Institute 42-4,
v Penang Free School 36-6, v Science School Kuala Lumpur 32-18,
v United World College of South East Asia 30-0.
The 31 boys, four teachers and 14 supporters were carried out promptly and willingly and there
on tour arrived in Singapore with some trepidation were no reports of any form of misbehavior. No
after all drinks on the plane had run out half-way doubt fascination with foreign cultures, fatigue,
through the 10-hour flight! pride in themselves and solidarity within the whole
The heat was uncomfortable and very group contributed to this.
noticeable as soon as the boys stepped out of the The whole party was well received by both
airport and, for the next two weeks, shorts, T-shirts pupils and school officials at each match venue. The
and garish hats were the order of the day at all hakas performed by the boys before the matches,
times. This was apart from official engagements and again afterwards in response to loud demands,
such as games and travel between cities, where the proved very popular and certainly helped to subdue
boys and coaches wore their touring uniform with a the opponents!
great deal of pride. Our Captain Joseph Tahana spoke with
The boys were magnificent ambassadors for increasing confidence after matches and was a hit
their school and for New Zealand. There were with the local boys because of his size and stature.
curious looks and smiling faces wherever they Ngaruawahia High School caps, coaching balls,
went, and at match venues there were always tour itineraries and a school plaque were presented
clusters of eager and chatty Asian boys surrounding to each opposing school, in return for which we
our. received very handsome school plaques, school
Good friendships were struck up with the magazines and school badges.
billets, and billetors spoke highly of the behaviour The standard of rugby in Singapore and
of our boys.. Instructions from the tour management Malaysian schools is not particularly high, but