The history of rugby at John McGlashan College (JMC)—a Presbyterian boys’ school in Māori Hill, Dunedin, founded in 1918—is a story of a smaller boarding school stepping up to challenge the giant traditional rugby institutions of the South Island.
Historically known for its deep “organic” school culture and striking tartan accents, McGlashan rugby has evolved from casual traditional matches into a highly respected premier first XV rugby program.
1. The Early Years and “Old Boys” Tradition
Rugby was embedded into the college’s culture almost immediately upon its founding.
• By 1923, just five years after the school opened, the very first annual fixture between the school’s First XV and an Old Boys’ team was established (the College side narrowly won that inaugural match 6–3).
• For the vast majority of the 20th century, McGlashan played a mix of local Otago club youth rugby and traditional interschool fixtures against other historic southern colleges.
• To support the expanding sport, the school’s Old Collegians Association launched a major fundraising campaign in 1967 to acquire and develop new, dedicated playing fields on land purchased from the adjacent Otago Golf Club.
2. The Rise of the “Tartan Culture”
Historically, Dunedin schoolboy rugby was heavily dominated by the massive rolls of schools like Otago Boys’ High School (OBHS) and King’s High School. However, by the 2010s, John McGlashan College began punching well above its weight class.
• 2016 Breakout: The year 2016 served as a major turning point for the First XV, achieving unprecedented success on the regional stage and proving they could give traditionally dominant rugby schools a serious run for their money.
• The Tartan Club (2019): In 2019, the school formalized this swelling rugby momentum by launching The Tartan Club. This special alumni and supporters network was built to establish a permanent high-performance pipeline—funding professional-caliber coaching development (including links to the Crusaders coaching courses) and modern sports conditioning while keeping past players connected to the jersey.
• The SSRC Era: Today, the First XV competes intensely at the top tier of the Southern Schools Rugby Championship (SSRC), routinely packing out the sidelines for fierce local derbies.
A testament to their gritty modern rise occurred in June 2025, when McGlashan pulled off a historic 29–26 comeback victory over Otago Boys’ High School, recovering from a massive 26–5 second-half deficit to win in the final minutes.
3. Notable All Black Alumni
Despite having a much smaller student roll than many of its rivals, John McGlashan College has produced elite rugby talent that has gone on to scale the highest peaks of international rugby:
• Ron Elvidge (All Black #469): A legendary figure who attended McGlashan in the 1930s. A brilliant second-five, Elvidge captained the All Blacks in 1949 and 1950. He is forever etched in rugby folklore for scoring the winning try against the 1950 British & Irish Lions while playing with a heavily bandaged head and a broken collarbone.
• Neil Purvis (All Black #760): A dynamic flanker from the heartland Otago country who graduated to wear the All Black jersey in 1976.
• Andrew Hore (All Black #1023): One of the school’s most famous modern modern products. A tough, uncompromising hooker from a Manioto farming background, Hore amassed 83 caps for the All Blacks between 2002 and 2013, famously lifting the Rugby World Cup in 2011.
• George Bell: A current rising star in New Zealand rugby, the young hooker went from the McGlashan First XV directly into the Crusaders and Canterbury setups.
