Nor'West News: June 23, 2022

8
Thursday June 23 2022
From novices to rugby champions
Christchurch Girls’
High School is a
rugby powerhouse,
dominating the Miles
Toyota Cup in recent
years. But when
current CGHS coach
Jamie Livingston
began leading the
team in 2015, few of
the hopeful rugby
players knew how to
play the game. Jaime
Cunningham reports
WHEN Christchurch Girls High
overpowered Lincoln Combined
1st XV 100-0 the players had no
idea of the score because they
were focused on enjoying the
game, coach Jamie Livingston
says.
Since Livingstone began
coaching the team at the end of
2015, they have won the Miles
Toyota Cup every year and only
lost one game.
Enjoying playing is a big part
of his mantra.
It was Livingstone’s rugby
director role at High School Old
Boys’ Rugby Club that lead him
to take on the role of head coach
at CGHS when a group of girls
asked him to coach the school’s
rugby sevens team for the Condors
competition in 2015.
When Livingstone first started
coaching at CGHS, girls were
wanting to play rugby but had no
idea how to play.
“I’d say three-quarters of them
had never tackled before.”
This year, there are girls in the
team who have played for years.
Livingstone says this is due to
growing interest. As professional
women’s rugby gets more exposure,
this interest filters down to
the grassroots.
“There was a premier women’s
SUCCESS:
Jamie
Livingstone
and the
title-winning
Christchurch
Girls’ High
School team.
game before a premier men’s one
with a big crowd. A lot of people
were surprised at the quality, but
for me, I’m not surprised at all.
I’ve been in the game and know
what the girls’ and women’s game
can do.”
This year the school has
entered two teams in the Miles
Toyota Cup for the second year
running, and Livingstone says
to get both teams in the top four
of the competition would be
“special”.
Although the 2nd XV has not
yet seen the same success as the
school’s top team, Livingstone
says the young team training
with the 1st XV is important,
so they get exposed to what is
required at the next level.
Known as “Livo” to the girls
he coaches, Livingstone is highly
respected by teachers, students,
and parents.
Craig Thornhill, a teacher,
and director of rugby at CGHS
says Livingstone’s dedication
to the school has led to a stable
environment of ongoing rugby
development.
He says without him, CGHS
rugby would not have enjoyed
such success.
Recently, former CGHS players
Grace Brooker and Jorja
Miller have received national
contracts, while Rosie Kelly
also played for Matatū in Super
Rugby Aupiki this year.
Eighteen-year-old Miller says
Livingstone is the coach every
girl’s school needs and he is what
drew her to play for CGHS.
“He is a selfless, driven and
enthusiastic coach that ensures
every player has the best opportunity
to be their best and strive
at the game,” she said.
For Livingstone, there is always
“a buzz” when girls get first
named for Canterbury but seeing
old girls continue playing rugby
after school is just as significant
as seeing girls play for New Zealand,
he says.
Looking to the future, he aims
to strengthen all 45 current players,
so each girl has an opportunity
to lead the way in the team
in a few years.
But for himself as a coach,
although Livingstone says he
would love the opportunity
to coach at a regional level, he
wants to keep enjoying being a
part of the CGHS rugby programme.
“My focus at the moment is
CGHS and making them the best
team on and off the field they
can be.”
ADJUSTABLE MASSAGE BED
by