First XV rugby: Prop culture – the schoolboy front-rowers who caught the eye this year

PremiumAdam Julian & Bruce HollowayNZ Herald·26 Aug, 2026 09:00 PM10 mins to readMeet the boys of the Tangaroa College First XV and the coach that turned the team from a struggling side to 1A contenders. Video / Anthony CostelloAdam Julian and Bruce HollowayWhile hybrid loose forwards and flamboyant backs typically write the rugby headlines, it’s said God invented beer to stop props from taking over the world. The barrel-chested hard men in jerseys one and three are often unfairly seen as unique creatures with cauliflower ears and