Rotorua Boys' High School alumni part of Commonwealth Games golden win

Boys' High principal Chris Grinter. Photo/file

Rotorua Boys' High School is celebrating the golden success of the Black Ferns Sevens team and is congratulating coaches and Raukura Old Boys, Allan Bunting and Cory Sweeney.

In a nail biting finish the women's team stormed to victory in extra time against arch-rivals Australia, winning the country's first gold medal in women's sevens, 17-12.

Bunting was a student of Rotorua Boys' High School from 1991 to 1997. He was appointed head coach of the Black Ferns in 2016.

He played NPC Rugby for Bay of Plenty for eight seasons and played professionally in Japan for three years. In sevens, he played for the Bay of Plenty and New Zealand from 2001 to 2004.

Sweeney became assistant coach in 2016. He attended the school from 1991 to 1995. Sweeney was previously a regional sevens manager and rugby development officer for North Harbour Rugby Union.

"It is great to see our Old Boys actively and successfully coaching sevens at the international level," Principal Chris Grinter said.

"Our school is a powerful and successful nursery for touch, rugby 15s and rugby 7s and this is now evident not only through the players but also through the coaches in their codes."

This continues the school's rich legacy in New Zealand sevens with Ngarohi McGarvey-Black having been selected for the Commonwealth team. However, an injury prevented him taking part in the Games.

Boys' High alumnus Sir Gordon Tietjens also coached the men's team to two World Series wins and four consecutive Commonwealth Games gold medals before being appointed the coach of the Samoan sevens team.