Westlake Boys High have won rugby’s World Schools Festival after beating Ireland’s St Michaels 28-21 in a classy final at the Pattana Sports Resort in Thailand.
It continues New Zealand’s dominance of a tournament that Hamilton Boys’ High won in 2022 under its new format and also underlined Westlake’s continued emergence as a powerhouse rugby school after finishing runners-up in New Zealand’s national first XV championship this year.
In a match played with rolling subs and water breaks to compensate for the heat, Westlake led 14-0 at halftime, firstly through a try from Blues academy U18 flanker Travis Findlay from an inside pass from Isaac Murray Macgregor, who then converted.
Sidestepping Westlake lock Brooklyn Pohio added a second converted try just before the break.