Auimatagi, 40, has been in charge of St Thomas’ league side since he started working at the school in 2011 and oversaw their second consecutive national secondary schools title this year.
He is also assistant coach for the school’s first XV rugby side, who finished fifth in the premiership this year. And he is president of the Linwood Keas rugby league club, who have won seven of the last nine CRL premierships.
But he said St Thomas’ journey to the top of schoolboy rugby league is “right up there” with his proudest achievements.
“It’s something we’ve been trying to build towards for a few years, so to get the performance we’re after is pretty rewarding.”
The school had a league team in years prior but participation boomed after Auimatagi joined the staff.
“Ultimately, if the teachers are passionate and leading sports, usually the boys will get behind it if there’s that drive and support,” he said.
“A couple of other teachers that were there at the school, they were right in behind rugby league also.”
Their first foray into a national competition came in 2013 when they entered the development tournament – losing to Rotorua Boys’ High School in the final – before entering again in 2015, this time losing to Wesley College at the same stage.
Since 2016 they’ve played in the national premiership, a competition which had been won by Auckland schools for 23 years before St Thomas broke the streak last year.
The majority of the current squad balances their league duties with rugby union. Auimatagi said 18 of the 20 boys who travelled to Auckland for the nationals played in St Thomas’ first or second XV this year.
It was “special” to be able to offer both sports to students, he said.
“Boys at that age, they just want to do everything.
“Sometimes you do need to pull them back a bit, we’re really conscious of the support that’s required for them, factoring in loading and recovery, but I think we’ve got it right most of the time.”
A talented back rower/hooker in his day, Auimatagi made New Zealand age-group league teams from 14s to 18s, and at 18 was a part of the Junior Kiwis in 2002 – taking on the Australian Institute of Sport, made up of the best young Australian players from outside the NRL.
Auimatagi’s side won 56-10 in a match that served as the curtain-raiser to a game between the Kiwis and Kangaroos – a moment he described as his proudest achievement as a player.
He was on the radar of NRL scouts and, in 2004, had trials with the Parramatta Eels.
“We went close to maybe securing a reserve grade contract,” he said.
“But in the end it didn’t work out and I came back to finish my degree and went from there.
“I came back from Parra and then made my debut for the Canterbury Bulls that year, played for New Zealand Residents that year, so I guess the dream was still alive. Things could have still eventuated.
“They didn’t, but I enjoyed my time playing for the Bulls for a few years.”
Auimatagi has a huge amount of experience coaching league in both juniors and seniors – a quick glance at his CV shows the Canterbury Bulls, Linwood Keas, and New Zealand secondary schools, under-16s and under-18s in addition to St Thomas.
As a teacher, he said his job is similar to his coaching duties.
“I’ve always loved working with young people and seeing them develop and grow, I guess that’s how I landed in teaching.
“And I just love working in teams, so I guess coaching, it was natural for me to want to do that.”
His coaching career started in 2007 when a torn achilles saw him consigned to the sidelines, so he offered to coach the Keas’ reserve grade side to stay involved in rugby league – the team won their competition that season.
He started coaching the Keas premier side in 2012, initially as a player-coach before giving that up in 2016 to just focus on coaching.
Under his tutelage the Keas won four consecutive premierships, with Aumatangi saying the last of those was his best memory as a coach.
“Making some history there with our fourth straight grand final win, and that day our reserves and our women won as well, so it was a pretty special day.”
He’s been on the board at Linwood since 2020 and was nominated for president this year – a role he said he took on reluctantly at first.
“I’m not big on titles like that. We’ve got a really awesome team of directors and we all have strings across the board, so it’s more of a team-led club that we have.
“I guess it’s more just being a voice for our club and community at the president’s table and work closely with Canterbury Rugby League to support the growth of our game and advocate for Linwood.”
