LISTEN: Why Australian schoolboy rugby is becoming superior to NZ

Sport Nation • October 8th, 2025 2:36 pm

New Zealand schoolboys before taking on Australia U18 | Photo: New Zealand Rugby

Aotearoa’s rugby community was stunned by back-to-back defeats to the Australia U18s over the past week, 81-48 and 55-33 in Canberra - a clear sign something’s shifted.

NZ Schools head coach Paul Tito, speaking with Sport Nation's Scotty & Izzy, offers an intriguing insight as to where we as a rugby nation have gone wrong.

“We’re at a different level here and we can’t keep up... If you don’t change, people pass you, and teams and countries are passing us," Tito said.

While Australia is evolving, investing, and innovating at the age-group level, New Zealand risks standing still and facing years of heartbreak and disappointment.

Listen to the full interview below:

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LISTEN: Why Australian schoolboy rugby is becoming superior to NZ

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