So it is Rugby World Cup time and I must admit it is a very exciting and stressful time for a Kiwi like me living in Sydney surrounded by passionate Wallaby supporters (including at least one of my daughters-in-law), and you can imagine what it’s like mixing in with my colleagues in the sports scene at Senior Campus here at Newington. There are a number of Kiwis who give me courage should we win (or lose) this weekend in the final of the World Cup.

However, so far so good. As I write this both teams have confirmed themselves as the best two teams in the world, and will meet in the final on Sunday morning.

Now I don’t want this to sound too biased towards the All Blacks but I do know a few things about their culture and behaviour that I think are worth sharing with you.

Did you know that after the Tongan versus NZ game, as the Tongan’s gathered and knelt to pray at the end of the game (having been heavily defeated), three All Blacks, Jerome Kaino (my Chapel Prefect when I was at St Kentigern College in Auckland), Waisake Naholo and Liam Messam asked if they could kneel with them and pray together. Wow – incredible comradery and brotherhood and sharing of faith.

Did you know that after every game in NZ, when the All Blacks play, the leadership group of Richie McCaw, Kieran Reid and Kevin Mealamu sweep out the changing rooms? This has such a sobering effect on the younger members of the squad – success and humility go hand in hand.

Humility in the midst of success is a wonderful goal to head towards, and even better when it is attained. As Jerome Kaino (the All Black No.6) has been heard to say, “You play hard to win, but afterwards you are humble.”

This team has become known for its after match welcoming of the opposition into their changing rooms for a celebration of the game. The lowly Namibian team at the World Cup were blown away when they were invited into the All Black changing room at the end of the 58-14 defeat.

The huge NZ second-rower, Sam Whitelock, summed it up with these words, “you’ve got to treat people as you would like to be treated.” Simple, yet incredibly profound for building a positive supportive community.

Surely at Newington we wish to embrace these values. To embrace humility in the midst of success, and to treat others as we wish to be treated ourselves (it used to be called the Golden Rule).

And of course these are divine values as we see from the Letter to the Philippians, 

“Christ encourages you, and his love comforts you. God’s Spirit unites you, and you are concerned for others.² Now make me completely happy! Live in harmony by showing love for each other. Be united in what you think, as if you were only one person. ³ Don’t be jealous or proud, but be humble and consider others more important than yourselves. ⁴ Care about them as much as you care about yourselves.” (Philippians 2:1ff)

Surely our dream at Newington is so similar to this – faith, friendship and making truly good men. Let’s encourage every member of our school community to give our utmost to achieve this goal.

Rev David N Williams
College Chaplain