Introduction to Sport
Sport at Auckland Grammar School is – and always has been – a fundamental part of student life. The School holds academia at its core but also acknowledges the role sport plays in achieving its vision of “pre-eminence in boys’ secondary education”. Sport at Grammar provides an opportunity for students to develop into well-rounded young men who live the ‘Grammar Way’, developing and role-modelling our core values while proudly representing the School.
Grammar has a proud history of sporting excellence and high participation rates across its 34 official sports. Students at Grammar are encouraged to participate in both a summer and a winter sport, and in 2021, over 70% of the nearly 2,600 enrolled students participated in at least one organised sport. Grammar’s premier teams, which provide opportunities for students wanting to achieve excellence in sport, are competitive at the highest regional and national levels, with most having won at least one national title throughout the School’s history.
Students representing Grammar uphold the School’s standards and expectations both on and off the sports field. These standards include wearing the full and correct uniform, committing and contributing to a team, and abiding by the School’s Sporting Code of Conduct. The maintenance of these standards is what sets Grammar apart. Young Grammar sportsmen strive to exceed all expectations in the pursuit of excellence to ‘leave the Grammar jersey in a better place’ – an All Blacks value that has been adopted by the School.
Many of Grammar’s premier sportsmen go on to achieve national and international success. Old Boys Akira ’09 and Rieko ’10 currently play for the All Blacks while Jimmy Neesham ’04, Lockie Ferguson ’05 and Kyle Jamieson ’08 play for the Blackcaps. Aaron Gate 04, Sam Webster 05 and Hamish Kerr ’10 medalled at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, with Aaron winning a record four gold medals in Cycling, making history as the first New Zealander to win four golds at an individual Commonwealth Games in the process. These elite athletes are all proud Grammar men who played multiple sports while at the School. The Grammar community is extremely proud of their achievements and their success inspires the next generation of aspiring Grammar sportsmen.
Each of the sports at Grammar is administered by a Master in Charge. This teacher-led model ensures sport is woven into the fabric of the School and keeps the teaching staff connected to the extracurricular provision provided to the student body. Grammar has a large number of teaching and support staff who are willing to coach and manage teams, as well as a supportive wider community of parents and Old Boys who are also willing to share their expertise and fill these roles when Grammar staff members are not available. These staff and community engagement levels are a hallmark of sport at Grammar and demonstrate how well supported young Grammar sportsmen are.
Auckland Grammar is proud of the sporting environment it has been able to establish and maintain for its students. I encourage all students to follow in the footsteps of generations of Grammar boys before them to contribute to this special environment and make the most of the sporting opportunities they are offered at the School. Doing so will allow them to have fun, make lifelong friendships, and develop a sense of belonging within Auckland Grammar School.
Per Angusta Ad Augusta
Ben Richardson ’05
Head of Sport