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King's College secure equal 3rd place at GFI Hong Kong 10s

4/19/2018

The King’s College boys went one step further this year and managed to secure equal 3rd place at the prestigious GFI Hong Kong 10s tournament.

Bill Mason, Hong Kong 10’s Tournament Director, was delighted with the effort showcased by the Kingsmen.

“I was most impressed with the way the King’s players conducted themselves, both on and off the field.”

Earlier this month a tour party of 26 made their way up to Hong Kong to compete in their 3rd GFI Hong Kong 10s.

“King’s caused one of the biggest upsets of recent years, by beating ‘Samurai’, a team stacked with Fijian Sevens internationals in one of the games of the tournament.” said Bill Mason, Hong Kong 10’s Tournament Director.

The all-Fijian Samurai team was loaded with nine Fiji international sevens players including Nasoni Rokobiau (ranked among the World Rugby Sevens Series top 20 all-time try scorers), Masivesi Dakuwaqa (Olympic Gold Medallist) and Emosi Vucago (former Fiji Sevens Captain).

King’s College, the youngest team with an average age of 21 was not the biggest team by any means. However, their well structured and well thought out play made the difference in securing the win against Samurai.

Stan Harman, GFI HK 10s Referee Manager suggested that King’s were the fan favourites again this year.

“King's College is a team that plays an exciting and expansive style of rugby. As an official, I am always impressed with everyone involved, from their strong team ethos and their ability to compete with the best in the world.”

King’s unfortunately lost in the Semi-final to the eventual Cup final winners, UBB Gavekal.

Dave Jackman, King’s College Head Coach believes his team has what it takes to lift the Cup next year.

“It’s always going to be a tough ask coming up against experienced and professional teams such as Samurai (UK - Fijian Players), YCAC (Japan - New Zealand Players) and UBB (French Top 14 - International Players). Our performance this year shows that sometimes it truly is the size of the fight in the dog.”

“I am extremely proud of the boys coming together to deliver such a great result. While other teams rely on their individual stars to get them across the line, we believe in our game plan, structures and trust in each other. Next year we aim to come back bigger and better!”

King’s College intends to return next year with a performance that sees them lifting the Cup final trophy.

RESULTS:

Game 1: King’s 17 – CCIG Tigers 14
Game 2: King’s 26 – Devils Shanghai Dragons 0
Game 3: King’s 0 – Tradition YCAC (Finalists) 17
Quarter Final: King’s 15 – Samurai 14
Semi Final: King’s 0 – UBB Gavekal (Winners) 26

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King's College return for their third Hong Kong 10's

4/3/2018

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King’s College sponsored by Strategic Equity Alliance will return to Hong Kong for the GFI Hong Kong 10s for the third straight year. Seven veterans from the 2016 and 2017 tournaments return in 2018 to lead a talented group full of new faces. Former Queensland Reds and Kamaishi Seawaves scrumhalf Scott Gale will lead the group, supported by Australian National Rugby Championship representatives Jock Campbell, Josh Birch, Patrick Morrey and Campbell Wakely.

Stars from 2016’s Team of the Tournament group Mackenzie Burgess, Ben Campbell, James Ohmsen and Thomas Vaessen will also feature alongside another experienced hand in former College President Austin Smith, who represented Hong Kong Scottish at last year’s tournament. Headlining an exciting crop of rookies is 21-year-old livewire Connor Clancy, an Australian Rugby Sevens National Champion from 2016’s dominant Queensland team.

Fellow Kings rookies Harry McMahon and Alex Moses made big impressions at the 2017 Queensland Schoolboys trials, while Finn Mounsey, Ash Whitehead, Tom and Henry Sharp have made their names featuring in Queensland’s famed GPS Schools competition. The group will be coached for the third time by South African-born coach Dave Jackman, ably assisted by Dane Jones of the University of Queensland Rugby Football Club. King’s College sponsored by Strategic Equity Alliance have been seeded 6th in the 2018 competition, entering Pool C alongside title contenders Tradition YCAC from Yokohama, the US-based CCIC Tigers coached by Blitzbokke legend Frankie Horne, and the Devil’s Own Shanghai Silver Dragons.

Coaches: Dave Jackman + Dane Jones

1. Mackenzie Burgess
2. Ben Campbell
3. Jock Campbell
4. Conor Clancy
5. Luke Cuskelly
6. Scott Gale
7. Josh Birch
8. Harry McMahon
9. Patrick Morrey
10. Finn Mounsey
11. James Ohmsen
12. Alex Moses
13. Henry Sharp
14. Tom Sharp
15. Thomas Vaessen
16. Campbell Wakely
17. Ash Whitehead
18. Austin Smith

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King's College embarrass Chinese National Team

4/7/2016

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The King’s College at the University of Queensland have defeated the Chinese National Rugby Team, the Gladiators, 31-12.

With 300-stud

Winger Jock Campbell crossed for two tries while lock Jack Cornelsen, centre Harry McNulty and hooker Campbell Wakely were all included on the scorer’s list.

China’s out-and-out pace created two tries for the match, both from long range.

King’s raced off to an electric start as flyhalf Ed Gibson fended off his opposite number with venom to break in to the backfield before linking with flyer Jock Campbell to race away untouched in the first minute of the clash.

China were straight back in to the game, slipping a tackle in midfield before finding themselves pounding on the King’s College door.

King’s absorbed the pressure and pilfered, clearing the kick with a renewed respect for the pace of the Chinese backline.

China took the lineout quickly, misjudging the speed with which Jock Campbell was closing.

One thumping tackle later and the ball flew backwards at pace, which Jack Cornelsen kindly put to rest for King’s second try of the evening.

King’s were quick to return, building pressure through the forwards before swinging wide for Ireland Sevens international Harry McNulty to fall over the line.

A great kick and chase from the Gladiators isolated Tom Kidston in the second half, turning the ball over before spreading wide to open their account.

Shanan Goodman struck back in the best possible way on the next phase, breaking the line before drawing defenders for a Sonny Bill Williams-esque offload to Kim Henderson outside, in turn drawing and passing to put Jock Campbell away for his second.

Campbell Wakely pick and drove over the line from close range to seal the victory but China’s sheer pace earned them a try in consolation.

King’s play the English Sevens-laden Samurai side at 1:05pm local time (3:05pm AEST) on Thursday.

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Samurai escape with Cup Quarter-Final win over Kings

4/7/2016

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King’s College at the University of Queensland have fallen agonisingly short of the tournament’s biggest upset to date, instead dropping out of the Cup competition with a 12-7 quarter-final loss to the heavily favoured Samurai.

In a similar performance to yesterday’s loss to Penguins Rugby, King’s defended like men-possessed against a team littered with representative stars.

The match was a battle of contrasting styles as Samurai’s pace and x-factor faced off against the courageous defence of the Kingsmen in a nail-biter.

King’s shot to an early lead before conceding twice, but were denied a comeback multiple times in a frenetic closing period.

Samurai received the ball to open the match but were met by a brick wall in defence, forcing them to kick away possession.

Fullback Jock Campbell launched King’s first jab, lock Tom Vaessen the second as both recorded long runs.

Winger Kim Henderson landed a shuddering right hook with a 40 metre linebreak, the damage compounded with another stinging run from Harry McNulty.

Samurai were left reeling in the face of King’s surging momentum but could only watch as Jock Campbell skipped inside a defender to score the opener, three minutes in.

An overthrown lineout inside King’s territory gifted Samurai great field position and King’s were quick to flood the breakdown, exposing the right flank.

Samurai were too fast to stop out wide from the opportunity, but couldn’t equalise from a tough conversion opportunity with three minutes remaining in the half.

King’s defence continued to frustrate the Samurai, reaching a boiling point when Jock Campbell chased down a certain breakaway to notch the try-saver of the tournament.

The weight of possession and territory took it’s toll on the King’s defence as Samurai capitalised on a poor missed tackle to seize a 12-7 lead.

For the next six minutes King’s launched raid after raid upon the Samurai line but couldn’t find a way through as time expired.

Samurai defended desperately to hold the lead, clearing their line at every opportunity before setting up camp and defending.

King’s final roll of the dice, in last play, came up unsuccessful, allowing Samurai to breathe a sigh of relief to have escaped with the win.

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Queensland country stalwart to tackle Hong Kong tens.

4/6/2016

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By Nic Darveniza

The Southport School on Queensland’s Gold Coast has produced more than it’s fair share of Wallabies legends.

Recent graduates range from Queensland Rugby’s latest Premiership heroes like James Slipper and Rob Simmons to all-time Wallabies greats Nathan Sharpe and Matt Rogers, to name just a few.

In 2011, a young front-rower named Campbell Wakely, aged 17, was by unanimous decision inducted into the Hall of Fame of arguably Australia’s finest Rugby nursery.

In 2016, Wakely will feature for King’s College at the GFI Hong Kong 10s. Fast approaching his physical prime at age-22, Wakely’s ultimate goal in Rugby is to represent the Queensland Reds, a feat the versatile front-rower is well on his way to achieving.

“The dream is to play Super Rugby one day, and I’ll jump in to NRC and club rugby and anything else that comes my way that helps me achieve that goal.

“The Hong Kong 10s are such a well-recognised competition that it’ll really broaden my horizons professionally. "Playing well in Hong Kong would add so much to my Rugby C.V, so I’m keen to get in there and make a splash in front of a great international crowd,” Wakely said.

Wakely first joined King’s College on a University of Queensland elite athlete scholarship in 2012, assisting the University Red Heavies on the road to Premier Grade titles in 2012 and again in 2014.

Named a shadow-squad member for the inaugural Queensland Country National Rugby Championship side in 2014, Campbell’s ability to pack down at any position in the front row helped him force his way into the starting side.

Now one of Country’s most-capped players, Wakely is an essential selection in one of the NRC’s strongest set-piece sides at any position in the front row.

“Playing in the NRC really helped me step up my game to a professional level,” Wakely said.

“Little things like diet and recovery have been huge, and sitting down to really reflect and analyse your performance each week has helped me loads,” With ample elite experience in the fifteen-a-side game, Wakely turns his attention to Rugby 10s alongside his mates at the Hong Kong 10s.

“We’ve got a young group of boys but there’s just so much talent here at King’s College,” Wakely said.

“We’ll definitely be heading in as underdogs but I think we’ll shake that off pretty quickly,” King's compete in Pool C at the Hong Kong 10s alongside the Chinese national team, UBB Gavekal and the Penguins.

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Champion defensive effort not enough vs Penguins

4/6/2016

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Nic Darveniza in Hong Kong

A late flurry of points from Hong Kong 10s powerhouse Penguins Rugby proved enough to sink the previously undefeated King’s College at the University of Queensland, 17-0.

King’s held the 2012 Cup Champions to 5-points for 18 of the match’s 20 minutes in a courageous defensive effort, but the class of the Penguins saw the result tipped their way late.

Two moments of almost indefensible magic sealed the game, likely sealing King’s into second place in Pool C with a Cup Quarter-Final berth with a similarly strong Samurai side.

Coach Jarrod Kiston said: “That game was a massive defensive effort. The boys really didn’t get their hands on much ball but still just kept getting up no matter how hard they got knocked down. I think they did that for each other, which is exactly how we’d want it to be.

“We did stick to our gameplan, but I think on a different day it might have gone better. I think we exited really well but those Penguins were just relentless.

“We have a system in place that we know can work, if a few things went our way it would be a different story. If anything maybe it would have been to chance our arm even earlier, but that’s experience gained for next time

“I think that if we played those guys first it definitely would have been a different result,” Kidston continued.

“But that’s how tournaments are and the challenge is to keep backing up.

“I think we did that well and I think we’ll continue to do that well against the Chinese national team next match,” Kidston said.

Penguins launched their first raid from kick-off, but were held out by committed defence in what would become a recurring theme through the match.

King’s stuck to the assigned game plan in the face of their toughest challenger yet, clearing the line to relieve pressure and in turn hope to apply their own.

Penguins proved a difficult opponent to pin down, capable of launching withering counter-attacks and pinpoint kicks in return with equal ease.

Penguins were able to cross through a set-piece move midway through the first half, beating King’s for pace on the outside to take a 5-0 lead.

Though the Penguins were a handful in attack, King’s defence drew just as many oohs and aahs from a crowd firmly in the underdogs favour.

Pressure in defence created multiple errors from the day’s most clinical attacking team, ranging from not-straight lineouts, knocking on in contact, to general inaccurate passing.

Jock Campbell, Kim Henderson and Campbell Wakely all recorded crunching try-saving tackles, the latter two forcing knock-ons in the process.

In the end a basketball pass on the left wing unlocked the space for an unstoppable race downhill to push the lead to 10-0.

Penguins soon struck again by capitalising on the lack of a backrow in the scrum.

A clever halfback scoot caught up the defending halfback in the legs of the second row, gifting the Penguins an untouched waltz through the goalposts as time drew to a close.

King’s play the Chinese National team at 9:30 pm AEST tonight.

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King's ruthless in 19-0 tournament opening win

4/6/2016

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King’s College at the University of Queensland (10th seed) has boomed into contention for Pool C honours at the GFI Hong Kong 10s tournament with a ruthless 19-0 victory over UBB Gavekal (6th seed).

Boasting three National Rugby Championship forwards in the forward pack, King’s forwards were simply magnificent in laying the platform for a complete victory.

In perhaps the understatement of the tournament so far, a ground announcer commented after the match that “King’s College would be a tough team to face” as the tournament wore on.

Spearheaded by hooker Campbell Wakely and lock Phil Potgieter King's lineout was unstoppable, but it was a whole pack effort to achieve the level scrummaging dominance they did.
With the boot of University of Queensland Premier Grade flyhalf Ed Gibson pinning Gavekal deep in their own half Gavekal’s discipline melted away, leaving the game wide open for King’s to take.

Perhaps even more impressive than the King’s set piece play was the fortitude shown in defence; throughout a 23-minute match, King’s completed all but one tackle, in final play.

Gavekal were firm in defence themselves, but were forced to defend for the entirety of the match as superb game management wore them down.

A high tackle in the fifth minute gifted King’s a lineout five-metres out, which was taken in to a rolling maul.

As progress was halted, hooker Campbell Wakely peeled around the corner and split the gap to score.

King’s finely-tuned ‘umbrella’ defence kept Gavekal contained to a 15m zone in centre field, providing ample opportunity for our talented forwards to pressure their ball.

Gavekal’s frustration proved the catalyst for King’s next scoring play as a yellow card was shown for a third high tackle.

A second rolling maul took King’s to the line, but captain Matt McCormick pick and drove over it to seize the 12-point lead.

The story was much the same in the second half as King’s choked Gavekal out of the match.

Irish international Harry McNulty showcased his class in the sixth minute of the second-half, throwing an outrageous dummy pass before skipping inside his defender to push the game out of contention.

King’s College head coach Dave Jackman said that the side had no expectations coming in to the tournament, but had faith in the game plan to deliver the result.

“We pinned them deep in their half and we knew that if they didn’t have the ball the only thing they could do was try to weather our storm.

“Our forward pack were the ones that really won us the game, and I really think that their fitness was key. Even though Gavekal outweighed us we were just really intense in the lineout, scrums and the rucks. We really worked hard to get them blowing.

“I think Penguins are tough opposition, so we’ll need to be even better to produce the same result next match. As long as we stick to our plan and starve them of ball I think hopefully we can hold them out.

“We’re going to go in to it with a fresh mindset. This is a whole new game,” Jackman said.

King's play Penguins in the Pool-deciding clash at 6:50 local time, taking in to account the delayed kick-off.

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Next generation of Rugby Royalty to feature for King's College

4/3/2016

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By Nic Darveniza.

King’s Rugby backrower Jack Cornelsen may well never live down the never-ending comparisons to his father, legendary Wallabies enforcer Greg.

After all, Cornelsen Sr (25 caps, 1974-82) made his test debut at just 21-years of age and holds the Wallabies record for tries in a Bledisloe, crossing for four at Eden Park in 1978.

Luckily for King’s, the 195 cm, 106 kg Gold Coast native has inherited all of his father’s try-scoring ability and the speed of a budding track star to boot.

Jack, now 21 himself, flashed the potential to continue Greg’s legacy from an early age. First winning selection to the State U18s as a 16-year-old in 2011, Cornelsen backed up in 2012 for the National U18s, defeating the indomitable New Zealand Schoolboys - a feat never accomplished since.

Graduating a Premiership-winning hero from Brisbane Grammar School in 2012, Cornelsen transitioned seamlessly into the powerhouse University of Queensland Premier Grade side, winning the Hospitals Cup in his second year in the team.

Now an essential member of the Red Heavies backrow, in 2015 Cornelsen was selected for Queensland Country in the fledgling National Rugby Championship, the Australian answer to the Currie Cup of South Africa and Mitre 10 Cup of New Zealand.

While Jack’s accomplishments in the 15-a-side game are extensive, his star has shone brightest upon the Rugby Sevens stage.

His extraordinary physical gifts and skills brought Cornelsen to the attention of Australian Sevens coach Michael O'Connor fresh out of school, representing the Australian Development Squad in Tournaments in 2013 and 2015.

With the sky his limit, King’s Rugby’s humble superstar will pack a mean punch at the GFI Hong Kong 10s Tournament in April.

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Kings’ College’s secret weapon primed for action on Hong Kong 10s sidelines

2/14/2016

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The @kingsrugby 10s team meet for the first training session of the season, 45 days out from flying to the #HK10s tournament in Hong Kong. The final results looked pretty good #Wyvern #KingsRugby #IfYouKnowYourHistory @jockkcampbell @eddgibson @macburgess @matthew_mccormick @camwakely @philly_pot @benhcampbell @kimhendersahn @thomas_vaessen @harmanmichael @djinthegram @jarrodkidston @nic_darveniza

A video posted by King's Rugby (@kingsrugby) on Feb 15, 2016 at 1:44am PST

By Nic Darveniza

Standing just over six feet tall and weighing in at a muscle-bound 98 kilograms, one could be forgiven for mistaking David Jackman for a star player on the Kings’ College Rugby 10’s team to tour Hong Kong in April.

In fact, 24-year-old Jackman is their coach - but in no part any less a star.

A former President of the Kings’ College student council, Jackman has had his coaching career fast-tracked at the invitation of the Queensland Rugby Union.

He is just one step away from acquiring his Level Three coaching; joining an exclusive coaching club that would provide him the qualifications necessary to take over the Wallabies, if called upon.

For now, Jackman is content steering the Kings’ College Rugby Sevens team from tournament to tournament around Queensland, and to no small degree of success.

Educated at the Rugby Monastery of Durban High School in South Africa, Jackman moved to Australia in 2010 to study at the University of Queensland.

He found the difference in Rugby philosophies between his home and adopted nation striking.

“The South African game I grew up playing was dominated by contact; picking out weak defenders in the line and targeting that throughout the match,” Jackman said in an quiet but unmistakable Afrikaans-Queensland drawl.

“Grinding teams down until they quit.

“Coming to Australia I’ve found that their focus on attacking space, rather than individuals, can be combined with the South African style to great effect; this is what I hope to bring to the Kings’ side in Hong Kong."

Jackman’s rugby education spans further than just South Africa and Australia.

Stints playing professionally in Hong Kong and coaching in Argentina on exchange have taught Jackman much about finding the ideal game plan to utilise the strengths of different teams.

“Kings’ are very lucky to roll out effectively a Queensland Rugby all-star team in Hong Kong this April.

“Phil Potgieter, Campbell Wakely and Jack Cornelson represented Queensland Country last year in the National Rugby Championship, the Australian equivalent of the Currie Cup in South Africa or New Zealand’s ITM Cup.

“Their collective experience will be invaluable in the upcoming ten-a-side tournament that is littered with a number of past and present international players from across the world.”

Having star-power on the pitch doesn’t always translate to success, as the All Blacks could attest at a myriad of Rugby World Cups.

However, Graham Henry and Shag Hansen could also attest the impact of star-power on the sidelines in carrying talented teams the rest of the way.

“We’ll just have to see how we go,” Jackman trails off with a cheeky grin."You can only lead a horse so far."

The Kings’ College Rugby 10s squad departs for Hong Kong on April 1. Check out the tour website at www.sponsorakingsman.com

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Nic Darveniza

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