Otago Boys High School Rugby Club (OBHS) in Dunedin holds one of the most prestigious and foundational histories in all of schoolboy rugby. Founded in 1863, the school was one of the earliest adopters of rugby union in New Zealand, establishing its rugby club in 1871.
Since then, OBHS has grown into a legendary nursery for rugby talent, famously serving as the breeding ground for dozens of international players and a staggering 25+ All Blacks.
The Christ’s College Rivalry: NZ’s Longest Annual Fixture
In 1882, Otago Boys’ High School played its inaugural match against Christ’s College (Christchurch). This encounter became an annual tradition and stands today as the longest running, uninterrupted inter-school rugby fixture in New Zealand history.
Alongside their historic clashes with Christ’s, OBHS participates in fierce, decades-old traditional annual exchange matches against other major South Island schools, including:
• Southland Boys’ High School
• Waitaki Boys’ High School
• Timaru Boys’ High School
The Ultimate Old Boy: Richie McCaw
While the school has produced generations of rugby royalty, its most famous sporting son is undoubtedly Richie McCaw.
McCaw attended OBHS as a boarder from 1994 to 1998. Long before he became the historic, dual World Cup-winning captain of the All Blacks, he was a standout leader on the Dunedin campus, serving as both Head Boy and Dux while anchoring the school’s First XV.
A Legendary Lineage of All Blacks
OBHS’s contribution to New Zealand rugby spans from the sport’s Victorian-era beginnings straight into the modern professional era. Rather than just producing role players, the school has consistently turned out era-defining leaders, captains, tactical innovators, and world-class athletes.
Notable OBHS All Blacks
The Pioneers James Allan, Jack Taiaroa James Allan (known as the “Taieri Giant”) was selected for the historic first-ever New Zealand team that toured New South Wales in 1884. Jack Taiaroa was another breakout star of that foundation era.
The Mid-Century Charlie Saxton Saxton was a brilliant 1930s All Black halfback who went on to manage the iconic 1967 All Blacks tour of Britain, fundamentally shaping the tactical development and administrative backbone of NZ rugby.
The Modern Greats Byron Kelleher, Richie McCaw, Wyatt Crockett Byron Kelleher captained the First XV in 1995 before becoming a premier international halfback. Centurion prop Wyatt Crockett spent his final school year (2001) in the OBHS front row.
Global Reach
The school’s rugby pathway does not just feed the All Blacks. Dozens of OBHS old boys have gone on to represent other nations on the World Cup stage or achieve elite status in global competitions. Notable examples include Tom Palmer (who went on to play 42 tests for England), Filipo Levi and Silao Sefo (Samoa), Roy Radu (Canada), and Oscar Iwashita (Japan).
Today, wearing the Hoops of the OBHS First XV remains one of the ultimate honors in New Zealand schoolboy sport, played out on the historic fields of Littlebourne under the watchful eye of a deeply passionate Dunedin community.
