An east Auckland secondary school recently hosted an exciting afternoon of international sport and cultural connection. Howick College welcomed visiting schools from Argentina and Japan for a series of spirited matches that went well beyond the contests and results. A highlight was the visit from St George’s College, a bilingual Buenos Aires school with a proud sporting history, marking the first time the two schools have come together. St George’s rugby and basketball teams engaged in friendly competition against a year 10 team from the Walker Homes Ltd Howick College Rugby Academy, the boys’ 2nd XV, and the under-17A boys’ basketball team. Howick College says while the scores reflected triumphs for both colleges, the focus was firmly on cultural exchange, with its senior Spanish language students on hand to welcome and connect with the Argentinean visitors. Taking the field also was Howick College’s girls’ rugby sevens team, who faced off against their Japanese sister school, Kanto Gakuin Mutsuura High School – fresh from their success at the Sanix World Rugby Youth Tournament in Japan. The game was a rematch of sorts following Howick’s visit to Japan earlier this year, where they earned a respectable fourth place in the prestigious international Sanix competition, ahead of teams from Australia, England and Hong Kong China. “The event reflects Howick College’s ongoing commitment to internationalism,” it says. “The school is actively expanding its global reach, and the visit from St George’s College is another step towards developing long-term international partnerships.” Besides sport, Howick College’s international department has already welcomed 99 students from 18 countries this year, “fostering an environment where students develop a broader worldview and a deeper appreciation for diverse cultures”. “This is about more than just competition,” says principal Dale Burden. “It’s about giving our students opportunities to engage meaningfully with people from around the world, using sport as the common language. “As these relationships continue to grow, Howick College remains committed to preparing students for a future shaped by global collaboration.”