The Elite Sport classes at Year 9 and 10 level have helped to further develop the quality of talent at Hamilton Boys’ High School. This programme has provided selected students with instruction in physical training methods, injury prevention and rehabilitation, sports nutrition and sports psychology, as well as providing regular coaching sessions in their chosen sport.

The positive feedback from parents and students alike, suggest that the Elite Sport programme is providing an opportunity for athletes to reach their full potential, an opportunity that is not available elsewhere. Parents who would like to have their son considered for a place in the Year 9 Elite Sport classes should complete the accompanying ‘Expression of Interest’ form and return it with their enrolment application.

Full Elite Sport application forms will be send out to those students who have been accepted to the school and have expressed an interest in being part of the programme. Students short listed for the Elite program will be required to attend trial days in December.

Recent successes have given even greater promise for progress and achievement in the future. The School will continue in its’ endeavours to produce outstanding athletes, champion sports teams and well rounded young men.

Mr Todd Miller
Head of Elite Sport

Mr Nigel Hotham
1st XV Rugby Coach, Senior Premier Touch Coach and Senior Premier Sevens Coach

Mr Hotham is one of New Zealand’s foremost secondary school rugby coaches. The 1st XV have been Waikato Secondary School Champions from 2003-2018, and National Champions in 2008, 2009, 2013, 2014. They were crowned World Champions in winning the ‘Sanix’ (Japan) World Youth Rugby Tournament in 2010, 2011 and 2014. The Rugby Sevens team have won the ‘Condor’ Sevens title as National Champions in 2006, 2008, 2015 to 2019, an unprecedented run of titles. Mr Hotham has coached the NZSS Rugby and Touch teams and has taken Touch at Hamilton Boys’ High School to new levels of success, winning the National title in 2005, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2016.

Mr Glenn Ross
Director of Rowing

Mr Ross has led rowing at Hamilton Boys’ High School as Director of Rowing since 2001 and during this time he has coached the under 15 crews to win 15 national eights titles. The development of this age group has led to winning the prestigious Maadi Cup and Springbok Shield in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2014, and 2015. During this period Hamilton Boys’ High School won numerous North Island and New Zealand national age group titles and has reigned supreme as the Champion Sweep Oar and best overall performing school winning the Executive and Star Trophies in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2014 and 2015, 2017 and 2018.

Mr Bruce Holden
Head Rowing Coach 2009-10, 2010-2018 Season

Mr Holden is a former New Zealand World Championship and Olympic rowing representative and he has been coaching our elite crews since 2007. As Head Coach he has coached our Under 18 Eight and Four to win the prestigious Maadi Cup and Springbok Shield in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2014 and 2015 and 2018. During this time he has coached the New Zealand U18 Junior Eight and Junior Four to compete at the Junior World Championships in France in 2009 and the Czech Republic in 2010.

Mr Chris Kuggeleijn
1st XI Cricket Coach and Elite Sport Cricket Coach

Mr Kuggeleijn is a former Northern Districts captain and a New Zealand test and one–day player. Mr Kuggeleijn coached Northern Districts to championship victories in all three NZ domestic competitions. In 1999 he was named NZ Cricket Coach of the Year. The HBHS 1st XI Cricket team, which he coaches, won the NZSS Gillette Cup finals in 2002-03, and in 2008. They were runners-up in 2009, and have made the finals in 2006, 2007, 2010, 2015, 2016 and 2018. The 1st XI competed in the Hamilton Men’s Premier Cricket Grade over the 2008-09 and the 2009-10 seasons, winning both the one day and two day championship titles, a feat never achieved by a local secondary school. Mr Kuggeleijn was appointed NZU19 Cricket Coach for the U19 World Cup held in Christchurch, January 2010. Mr Kuggeleijn is also a programme mentor for our elite athletes in the Senior Rugby, Football, Hockey and Basketball teams. He also coaches the Year 9 and 10 Elite Sport Athletes.

Mr Aaron Scott
1st XI Football Coach & Elite Sport Football Coach

Mr Scott was a member of the 2004 NZ Secondary School’s team and captained the NZ Olympic Under 23 team in 2008. He was selected as a member of the NZ All Whites squad from 2008 – 2010 playing in the World Cup qualifiers and 2009 Confederation Cup. He was also a non-travelling member of the 2010 World Cup squad. He has played for Waitakere United national ASB Premiership team since 2009. He has also coached the 1st XI to NZSS title in 2017.

Mr Stephen Smith
1st XI Hockey Coach & Elite Sport Hockey Coach

Mr Smith joins us from the UK where he represented his country at all age groups. He played domestic hockey in the English National Premier league where he captained Bowdon Hockey Club to National Finals in both indoor and outdoor competitions. Mr Smith brings with him a wealth of international playing and coaching experience not only from Europe, but also Australia and the USA. In New Zealand, Mr Smith represents Midlands Hockey in the New Zealand National Hockey League and is a Midlands High
Performance coach for Development Squads, U21 Men Head Coach and has more recently been recognised as an advanced coach by New Zealand Hockey. Mr Smith runs the Yr 10 ES class.

Mr Riki Strother
Head Basketball Coach & Elite Sport Basketball Coach

Mr Strother played first division basketball in 1987 and again between 1991 – 2003 winning 3 National Championship titles; 2 with Waikato and another with Auckland. He was a member of the New Zealand Tall Blacks between 1992 & 1997. Mr Strothers is the Head Coach of our Premier Basketball team and has taken them to Regional Champions in 2016 and 2017.

Matua Mita Graham
Touch Coach

Matua Graham is a former captain of the HBHS Premier Touch Team, the first HBHS team to win the New Zealand Secondary School National title in 2005. He is a current NZ Mens Open player and Captain, and is Player / Coach of Waikato Mens Open team.  In 2019 Matua Graham was presented with his 50th test cap and blazer at the World Cup in Malaysia and was selected for the Touch Warriors team.

Mr Todd Miller
Under 15 Rugby Coach

Mr Miller is a highly qualified and experienced personal trainer. His experience with top level sports teams has given him the skill to prepare our athletes in areas of physical fitness, including aerobic conditioning, speed and agility training, strength development and muscular endurance. Mr Miller has represented Waikato in Rugby, the Chiefs, Maori All Blacks, and the All Blacks as a player and is now Head of Physical Education and the Health & Physical Well-Being Faculty at Hamilton Boys’ High School. Mr Miller has been in charge of the Elite Sport programme since 2008 and has been involved in teaching as part of this programme since 2004. Mr Miller is the current coach of the U15A Rugby team.