Rugby: Emotional haka blows away HBHS coach

Hastings Boys' High School finished their Super 8 campaign in fourth place.

Hastings Boys' High School's 1st XV rugby side's head coach Jack Wiggins received what he described as an emotional send-off on Saturday.

"When the boys did the haka for me it was one of the most emotional experiences in my life," Wiggins said.

Wiggins, who has spent four years with the team and the past two as head coach, will return to England this weekend to take on an assistant manager role with the London Wasps Rugby Academy.

His troops couldn't produce a winning farewell but were competitive during a 21-9 loss to unbeaten Super 8 champions Hamilton Boys' High School in Hamilton.

"We made a couple of mistakes and they capitalised on them. Apart from those there was good defence from both teams," Wiggins said. Hastings trailed 12-9 at halftime. Halfback Buster Keefe kicked three penalties for the visitors.

Wiggins said powerful No 8 Marino Mikaele-Tuu enhanced his chances of New Zealand Secondary Schools team selection with an outstanding display.

His frontrow of props Kianu Kereru-Symes and Gilbert Taoho and hooker Desmond Manoa functioned well.

Hastings Boys' High School finished their Super 8 campaign in fourth place but qualified for the Hurricanes zone semifinals to be played on August 22. Their opponents have yet to be decided but it will be the winner of the clash between Wellington's St Pat's Town and Scots College.

The Bay's other Super 8 team, Napier Boys' High School, didn't play at the weekend.