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Six past and present Mahurangi College students proudly pulled on the black jersey to represent New Zealand at the Asia Pacific Youth Touch Cup held in Redcliffe, Queensland, from May 15 to 17.
Ten nations participated in what is one of the sport’s most competitive youth tournaments, with NZ winning gold in the Mixed 18s and Men’s 20s. The wins represented NZ’s first youth international final gold since 2009.
Local players Maia Iversen, Max and Luke Matthews and Sienna Innes played in the U18 mixed team, coached by Mahurangi alumnus and Touch Black George D’Urban-Burgess. George, with support from his brother Dan, also a Touch Black, brought leadership, precision and tactical insight that helped guide the team to a thrilling victory over Australia in the final.
With the score locked at 7-all at full time, the match went to a tense drop-off. New Zealand scored twice in the two-minute countdown, while Max Matthews played a crucial role in holding off the Australian attack with some outstanding last-line defence. When the final whistle blew, the team had secured the win, 9-7.
The momentum didn’t stop there. In the U20 Men’s final, Tommy D’Urban-Burgess, the youngest of the D’Urban-Burgess brothers, was a stand-out. In another nail-biting match that ended in a draw, Tommy scored the decisive try during the drop-off period. In a dramatic final 10 seconds, a teammate made a sprinting touch on a near-certain Australian equaliser to preserve the lead. New Zealand had clinched a second gold and Tommy was deservedly named Most Valuable Player for his team.
Maz Blackler, another past Mahurangi student, proudly took the field for the U18 Boys, who earned silver after a strong run through the tournament. Inangaro Haurua, a current Mahu student, was also selected to represent the Cook Islands, honouring her heritage and contributing to the tournament’s international spirit.
The overall Asia Pacific Youth Touch Cup title was won by Australia’s Athelite Emus.
The tournament wins cap off what has been an unforgettable season for Mahurangi Touch. Earlier this year, under George D’Urban-Burgess’s coaching, the Mahurangi College mixed team took out the NZ Secondary Schools title. Following this, a number of Mahurangi players were chosen to represent North Harbour in the Youth and Open Nationals, several winning medals.
Much of this success can be attributed to involvement of two local families, the Winianas and D’Urban-Burgess, who have contributed countless hours to player development, coaching and community building.
“Their passion and leadership have created an environment where talent is nurtured and success is a shared journey,” Division 1 player Lewis Nicol says.
“From local fields to international finals, Mahurangi College continues to produce touch rugby excellence, supported by a passionate network of coaches, families and fans. With the 2025 season drawing to a close, the future of touch in Mahurangi has never looked brighter.”
Ngati Tuwharetoa Mercury Development Group and Te Ati Hau Trust were thanked for their support of Maia Iversen, and Impact Coaching for sponsoring Max and Luke Matthews.
