Brett Cameron from Cullinane College

Last year Brett Cameron from Cullinane College raised eyebrows when he was named in the New Zealand Secondary Schools'  training squad.

The first-five from a small college in Wanganui excelled in an area where top class competition is often lacking.

In 2015 there is another promising prospect on the representative radar in Wanganui. 

Stephen Perofeta attends Wanganui Collegiate School and has just been named in the Hurricanes under-18 training squad.

"I can't wait. The chance to test myself against the best is really exciting," the softly spoken Samoan says.

In purist of stiffer opposition Perofeta actually switched schools' within his own region.

"I was at Wanganui High School, but left in 2013 when I was offered a scholarship to Collegiate. I left because I wanted to play harder rugby," he says.

"I made the First XV at High School in Year 10 and found the going tough. The Central North Island competition at Collegiate is a big draw card."

Ironically Collegiate lost to High School in the annual traditional that year, but Collegiate beat five Central North Island opposition in 2013.

Perofeta scored two tries in the narrow 19-15 win over Rathkeale College, but he says the win over Feilding High School was a major highlight.

Perofeta along with Nick Cave, Joe Edwards and Te Atuere Albert scored tries as Feilding was flogged 24-10.

"It was wet and Feilding are always a good side. Our forwards really stood up that day and to win like we did was really exciting," Perofeta says.

Wanganui have only won two games in the Central North Island series in the last two years. Perofeta has played 45 games for First XV and impressed with his quality, so much so he has represented New Zealand in touch.

Tyler Scott is a former player and current manager of the First XV, he speaks highly of Perofeta.

"Stephen is incredibly modest about his ability on a rugby field. He never talks himself up to anybody. He has completely out played many opponents, but does not speak a bad word about any of them. A word to describe him would be selfless. He puts everybody before himself."

Perofeta has the ability to score big. Last year he scored all 17 points in a narrow defeat to Lindisfarne College.

This season he has scored 28 points against Te Aute College and 27 against Hato Paora College.

Perofeta says his goal for the remainder of the season is to "challenge himself," and "help his team."

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