 After a three-week break, the Auckland Premier 1A rugby competition resumes tomorrow, with top-of-the-table clashes between Auckland Grammar School and St Kenitgern College and Sacred Heart College and St Peter’s College being two key games to follow. There are just three rounds remaining before the semi-finals. St Kent’s (30 points) and Auckland Grammar (29) are two of the frontrunners. St Peter’s College (29) and Sacred Heart College (28) round out the current top four and their clash at Sacred Heart tomorrow could be a semi-finals determining clash too. De La Salle College (24) and King’s College (24) will both be hunting wins over mid to lower table ranked Aorere College and Dilworth school respectively to push their playoff claims, while defending national champions Mount Albert Grammar School (19) could be in must-win territory against Kelston Boys’ High School.  Sky Sport has had a chat with St Kentigern College first five-eighth Rivez Reihana ahead of tomorrow’s big match: “We don't listen outside noise. We try to keep our heads down and work harder and smarter than everyone else. If we're having fun and winning the critics don’t matter,” Rivez Reihana responds when asked to address the hostility towards St. Kentigern College’s rugby programme. The private school in Pakuranga has become a powerhouse in recent seasons, winning the Auckland 1A championship in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2015. This year St. Kent’s tops the table again with three rounds left in the regular season. Motivation to remain there is high after last year’s semi-final saw St. Kent’s blow a 10-point lead to lose to Sacred Heart College. “Last year was a big learning curve. We made some changes to our game plan and programme to ensure we maintain the high standards of past teams,” Reihana reflects. St. Kent’s avenged their defeat to Sacred Heart with a 17-6 win earlier in the season. Reihana explains the unique build up. “Our coach showed us footage of the Sacred Heart celebration last year and warned us that’s what it’s like to lose to them.”  This Saturday St. Kent’s travels to Auckland Grammar School for a top of the table clash. Grammar has reason to be as rowdy as the 2016 Sacred Heart supporters. They have won six games in a row and Reihana expects a mighty battle. “It will be a tough game and will come down to a few key moments. Our plan is to get dominance up front, avoid the flashy stuff and keep things simple. If we do that we will be able to express ourselves later,” Reihana believes. Reviz is a confident and expressive first-five, originally from Whangarei. He made his debut for the First XV as a Year 9 in 2014 and the promising prospect has already signed for the Chiefs, starting for the Chiefs Under-18’s in their first win since 2008 over the Blues equivalent in the school holidays. “Chiefs camp was awesome. It taught me so much about being a better player and person.” Reihana has had to be thick-skinned. In 2015, St Kent’s won 18 out of 20 games, but in the National Top four semi-final against Rotorua Boys’ High School had both mid fielders were knocked unconscious out of the game. “I was Year 10 and they stuck me on the wing. That was pretty scary,” Reihana laughs. St. Kent’s is not short of scary talent. Outside back Etene Nanai is the cousin of Tim Nanai-Williams and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck. After an injury break the New Zealand Warriors singing is back in the roster for the weekend. Lock Robert Rush is the son of former All Black Eric Rush and was the Blues Under-18 player of the camp. In his spare time Reihana enjoys fishing and spending time with his three older sisters and his father who is a retired police detective.
Auckland 1A round 9 matches this weekend (home team first): Aorere College v De La Salle College Auckland Grammar School v St Kentiern College King’s College v Dilworth High School Mount Albert Grammar School v Kelston Boys’ High School Tamaki College v Liston College Sacred Heart College v St Peter’s College For more visit: College Rugby at: http://www.collegerugby.co.nz/national/games-results.php?competition=25&season=13&round=9 18/7/2017 Rico Rising Fast Photo Credit - Dave Lintott From the seventh XV to starting Crusaders Under-18 fullback, Rico Syme has enjoyed a meteoric rise in stature in 2017. The Year 13 at Christchurch Boys’ High School appeared to have lost his passion for sport at the start of the year, but is now a contender for the New Zealand Schools. “I committed to cricket and made the First XI, but I didn’t enjoy it so I withdrew from it. I regret choosing cricket,” Syme concedes. Syme wasn’t hopeful of making the First XV given he is typically a first-five and the established Alex Hartford returned to school. However social rugby provided little stimulation.  “I wanted competitive rugby so I eventually decided to trial for the firsts and made the seconds. We took a couple of games to get our patterns, but we got on a roll and I enjoyed it,” Syme reveals. When Syme was promoted to the First XV to cover injury, the second XV suffered. In their first match against High School Old Boys’, Christchurch was beaten 8-40 without Syme. When he returned Christchurch won 19-18. It would be an exaggeration to suggest Syme is worth 36 points, but he has made a telling difference covering fullback for the First XV. In a traditional fixture against St. Andrew’s College, Syme produced a star turn.  “We were down 23-15 with five minutes to go. Alex Hartford kicked a penalty to make it 23-18. In the last minute, we had the ball on our 10-metre line. I took an offload from Campbell Reid which put me in a gap. I managed to beat the fullback and score under the posts. Alex kicked the conversion and we won the game.”
Syme also played in the narrow 13-11 win over Moascar Cup holders Nelson College. “It’s a pretty tough competition with little between the top four teams. Nelson are dangerous especially if they get the ball to Leicester Faingaanuku. He is pretty hard to tackle,” Syme believes. The performance which catapulted Syme to rep status was his display against Rangiora High School, though Syme is humble about his efforts. “The selectors turned up to the Rangiora game which went pretty well in the first-half. I made a couple of early breaks which felt good. In the second half, I don’t think I touched the ball.” Syme wasn’t originally selected in the Crusaders camp, but an injury to Christ’s Levi Emery saw Syme called into the roster last Monday, the halfway point of the four-day gathering. On Tuesday night at Rugby Park the 60 players were divided into two squads for a match. Syme scored two tries. “The trial game was played over three thirds of 20 minutes. It was good to get a couple of tries and get noticed,” Syme enthused. Unfortunately for the Crusaders their trip to Wellington to tackle the Hurricanes Under-18’s wasn’t a success. The Crusaders were beaten 25-10, but it wasn’t all doom and gloom for Syme. “The ball didn’t go my way which was annoying, but we were competitive. In the second-half we didn’t execute a couple of things which was costly. If we had I believe we could have won,” Syme asserts. This Saturday Syme will have another opportunity to impress a larger audience when Christchurch Boys’ plays St. Bede’s College on Land Rover First XV rugby. Christchurch are warm favourites to win the long-time traditional given St. Bede’s have only won twice in the UC Championship this season. However, Syme is taking nothing for granted. “St. Bede’s have had a tough season, but like the College game they will get up for it. It’s on TV so we can’t afford take them lightly.” Christchurch Boys’ High School v St. Bede’s College kicks-off at 2:45pm on Saturday on Land Rover First XV Rugby.  The following has been written by outgoing Kaipara College Girls Rugby coach Callum Finlay, who is heading to Singapore for a teaching role. It is an interesting and mainly sad proposition leaving Kaipara College Girls Rugby. Since taking over the reigns in 2015 there has been a lot to live up too. In 2014 they had won the North Harbour Ten’s Championship under Sina Frost. They had won the North Harbour Sevens two years in a row and came 6th at the Condors Seven’s under the tutelage. In 2015 Innes Kerr-Taylor handed me the coaching job of an extremely talented and already championship winning Kaipara College Girls Rugby team. It was a daunting concept and I was extremely lucky to have the great support of Innes and the parents of the players. The players warmed to me eventually and under the guidance of a great captain in Tara Mansell-Sawyers and natural leaders Rina Paraone and Sativa Tarau-Peehikuru the team went through the tens season undefeated. We played Hato Petra in the final, coached by Mark Tapsell which Kaipara narrowly won after Rina Paraone ran down a barn storming Pia Tapsell and stole the ball to seal the game. That makes 15 tens wins in a row since the middle of 2014.  From this 2015 season Kaipara College had nine players and one coach to be part of the North Harbour Under 18 Secondary School Girls team. This team had the expert tutelage of Black Fern Chelsea Alley and a man admired by many for his rugby knowledge, Mark Tapsell. These girls Tara Mansell-Sawyers, Carissa Mansell-Sawyers, Rina Paraone, Madi Wells, Caitlyn Cox, Georgia Logan, Anna Steele, Sativa Tarau-Peehikuru and Malia Hemehema were part of the first North Harbour Secondary School Girls Team to beat an Auckland Provincial team.
The 2015 season didn’t stop there for Kaipara College both the under 15’s and the open girls took out their respective sevens championships, the 3rd time in a row for the open girls. Both teams would look at taking on the National Condors sevens tournament. But before then the under 15’s then went on to play in a Northern Region 7’s competition finishing up in the top 4. The Open girls went to play in the North Harbour Club Sevens losing to East Coast Bays in the Final. From here we took on Condors after having a rough first day and losing Rina Paraone and Tara Mansell-Sawyers to injury we battled back and narrowly lost the plate final 7 to 5 against Wellington East Girls’ College. After the let down of the Condor sevens in 2015 some of the girls got respite being a part of the North Harbour Under 18’s Girls Sevens that won the northern region. But for the rest salvation was on the way in the form of the inaugural Blues 10’s. The Kaipara girls had a lot to live up to after the last great season of tens and sitting in a hard pool that included Mt Roskill Grammar and Otahuhu our tens streak might have failed. But the girls battled through the pool play to make the final, a TV game something we have lost twice before. 7-0 At the break probably written off by most but we took our chances and had a little bit of luck with Anna Steele scoring a great try with a minute to go and Georgia Logan scoring after the full time siren to seal us the inaugural Blues 10’s Trophy. This put our tens winning streak to 19. After the Blues tens win we carried that form into the North Harbour Tens competition going undefeated and taking out the final against a talented Glenfield team, lead by outstanding players Mickayla Robinson, Rona Wharawhara and Florida Fatanitavake. But not only were we comfortable taking on North Harbour teams we took on the Auckland Secondary School tens Champions Mt Roskill Grammar defeating thm 45-19. That gave us 11 tens wins for the season and 30 undefeated since 2014. These wins inspired the girls to challenge for something a girls team in North Harbour had never aspired to do before, that was challenge for the NZRU Top Four. We had played a friendly game against Southern Cross Campus earlier in the year to gauge how we might go at 15’s and were pleasantly surprised, so once we had won the Tens we asked the North Harbour Union if we could challenge for the Blues spot at Nationals. They were more than happy to help us out. So on a blustery September day we headed out to Southern Cross Campus and narrowly defeated a great team of competitors 17-15. We became the first ever North Harbour School to participate in the Top Four NZRU Nationals. Once down in New Plymouth we had a tough road, facing a competent and outstanding Southland Girls side, who definitely put us through our paces in the first day, us losing 24-45. We then had to go up against reigning champions Hamilton Girls’ High School for the play off for 3rd and 4th. Low and behold with our 17 players and less than three hundred girls to choose from, we managed to beat one of the best rugby programs in the country 10-7. Luck had played its part and it was a great competition to be apart of. Once back in North Harbour provincial rugby was back upon us and now with Kaipara having 13 girls and a coach now in the North Harbour Under 18 secondary School Girls, it was going to be a daunting season. But we prevailed winning the Northern Region Provincial Championship, another 1st. Id like to think some of the Kaipara College Rugby Values rubbed off on the other players, and that helped us get there. It had been a long year of rugby so far for the girls and not much let up going in to the seven’s but they battled through taking our the North Harbour Secondary School Open 7’s tournament for the 5th year and coming a narrow second in the under 15’s. We again entered the club sevens and again lost to East Coast Bays Narrowly in the final. Then some of the girls took a break to play for North Harbour in the Under 19 Northern Region 7’s Tournament, there were 8 Kaipara players in the squad, and they again won. Three trophies for North HArbour Provincially that I’m happy to say Kaipara College Rugby had a big hand in (hope that’s not Immodest). Condors was just around the corner and again we thought maybe this will be our year, unfortunately we were in the pool of Death as only one team made it out of our pool into the top 8 and the rest of us were in the other finals. In saying that we had Southland Girls on the ropes at 12-0 only to have them come back on us. We did how ever battle back the next day and win the Bowl. So we ended the 2016 year with only three defeats, two to Southland Girls’ High School and one to East Coast Bays Rugby Club. Not bad going if I’m honest, we also had some outstanding achievements: Rina Paraone made the New Zealand 7’s Development team and gained a scholarship to the university of Waikato, Sativa Tarau-Peehikuru gained a scholarship to Lindenwood University in the U.S.A and many of the girls have started working for the union and are part of the high performance program. In 2017 Kaipara College Girls Rugby hit the ground running we had lost some great players but the vibe was positive and the future looks bright. We have six girls in the under 18 North Harbour elite development group, five girls playing in the North Harbour Under 15’s. We have won the Blues tens again and I can comfortably say we are the best tens team in the Blues region. We have gone undefeated in the first 7 games of the 10’s season. It brings our record up to 40 ten’s wins without defeat. We have an exceptional Leadership team of Madi Wells, Malia Hemehema, Merania Paraone and Anna Steele. The Kaipara College Girls Rugby Program loses a coach with me leaving but it doesn’t lose the pride, the prestige and the desire to do great things. I look forward to seeing what great things they do next.  A number of secondary school students are involved in officiating sport throughout New Zealand, sometimes refereeing or umpiring to a high level within school sport or higher up in the senior or representative ranks. New Plymouth Boys’ High School Year 13 rugby Andrew Hood is one such person. What sport and competitions are you are officiating in? Rugby - Taranaki Colts (U20s) and First XV. When did you start refereeing and how did you get involved? Aged 12, in 2012. One of my dad’s colleagues encouraged me to give rugby refereeing a go as I was never that good as a player; however, I wanted to stay involved with the sport I love.  When did you referee your first game on your own at any level?
The first game I refereed was an U10s match in Southland between Woodlands and Marist. I don’t remember much about the game apart from the fact that I got drenched in rain from the typical Invercargill weather. Do you also play rugby or other sports? During the summer I play competitive tennis for Pukekura Park in the Soffe Cup (Premier) Competition and travel quite often for tournaments. On a more social level, I still continueto play a range of sports including senior thirds cricket for Merrilands, Basketball, Squash and the occasional game of rugby for the NPBHS 6th XV Magpies. However, rugby refereeing is my primary focus for the future. Do you have a refereeing highlight? Being part of the 2016 Roller Mills rugby tournament was a highlight for me. Being able to see some of the future stars in New Zealand rugby and referee some amazing games of U13 rugby. Some of these games (including the 9 v 10 playoff which I was lucky enough to referee) had a similar atmosphere to games you would find a premier level. Other highlights include several final at age group level and more recently, the chance to referee the Tai Mitchell U13 tournament, held in Mt Maunganui. My favourite game would be the First XV semifinal last year between Inglewood High School and Hawera High School. Do you have any special pre-game routines? I like to stick to the same routine once I arrive at the venue where I am refereeing. Eg: I try and keep the times where I talk coaches, front row, and captains consistent and also warm-up at the same time and length each week. What are some of the challenges of rugby refereeing? As referees, there are several challenges that we face. This includes dealing with players, coaches and spectators as well as being fit enough to last a whole game and then often having to run touch for the Premier referees immediately afterwards. Over the years, I have had to grow a thicker skin in order to deal with the comments at aimed me from various groups of people. Fitness is also key and I will regularly train in my own time to keep up with the fast pace of the game. Do you think you have a good handle on the rulebook - how much is there to learn? Rugby is a very complicated sport as there are many different laws in rulebook and also many different interpretations on these laws. Understanding the rulebook is important but it is just as, if not more important, to be able to bring this understanding to every game. Players will respect a referee with a clear, decisive understanding of the rules of the game. For me, my law knowledge is growing with each game I referee, however I am far from understanding all of them. Have you ever had negative comments and abuse directed at you from players or from the sideline and how have you dealt with these? Negative comments and abuse from the players and the sideline is almost a given for any referee of any sport. However, it it is critical to understand that these ‘comments’ are not personal, however they are directed at the game itself. Any abuse directed at you will most likely be as a result of one team not getting the outcome they wanted from a particular call not going their way. Although referee abuse is definately not okay, it is key to understand that they are not attacking you personally, only the game itself. Do you use video analysis or the help of a mentor or coach to improve your performance? In the Taranaki Rugby Referees Association, there are several people who give me feedback in order to improve. As I receive a variance of feedback, it is important to only filter in the feedback that you believe can help improve your overall ability. My mentor, Max, who is a Premier referee in Taranaki has been working very hard this season to help me improve, which I am very grateful for. What are your goals in officiating your sport? The ultimate goal for me since I started refereeing would be to make it my profession, where I am able to get paid to travel the world doing something that I love. Of course, I am not the only one with this dream but I believe that this is very achievable for me. I alsohave smaller goals, there are certain levels I want to reach by a certain age. It is crucial for me to keep pushing myself otherwise I will just remain where I am in terms of my refereeing. Are there other people your age in your area/school/club also refereeing rugby? When I first shifted to the Taranaki region, I was the only rugby referee my age. Everyone else was older. However, now the number of junior referees is increasing rapidly. We had one junior referee join last year and two new junior referees join this year. Hopefully this number will continue to increase. What advice do you have for someone your age considering joining you in officiating your sport? Becoming a referee ignited my passion for rugby. It gave me goals to work towards and a way to meet new people and a way to better increase relationships between myself, players and various other roles in the rugby community. The feeling of refereeing a great game of rugby is extremely satisfying and has has helped better many of my traits including increasing confidence and decreasing my self-consciousness. Plus, if you aren’t the world’s greatest rugby player , you still have the chance to be involved with the game at the highest level. I would strongly recommend giving refereeing a go.  The Hurricanes U18s have beaten the Crusaders U18s 25-10. In a curtain raiser to the senior contest at Westpac Stadium, the Hurricanes reversed a 10-8 deficit to win the fixture for the third year running. It was a match which failed to soar to great heights with heavy dew making handling difficult and ambitious players trying too hard to make a favourable impression. The Hurricanes scored the opening try after about 15 minutes when burly prop Kaliopasi Uluilakepa from Petone FC muscled over after repeat phases. The Crusaders responded a short time later by scoring their only try. Winger Leicester Faingaanuku galloped away after halfback Louie Chapman darted short-side and captured the Hurricanes short of numbers. The Hurricanes employed a more direct approach in the second-spell and the Crusaders at times struggled to contain the host’s aggressive forward runners. Openside Josh Southall was a standout and scored two tries. The first was scored by attaching himself to the back of an unstoppable maul. The second was an individual beauty which saw him push aside two players and dash 20-metres. Both benches were emptied as the game petered out lamely. Other standouts for the Hurricanes included lock Taine Plumtree, No.8 Devan Flanders who grew in stature as the game progressed and reserve halfback Humphrey Sheild who injected obvious energy. For the Crusaders, first-five Fergus Burke, lock Cullen Grace, centre Isaiah Punivai and Faingaanuku were the standouts.  Canterbury Under 19 Head Coach Mark Brown has named his Wider Training Group for 2017, ahead of the South Island Qualification fixtures starting in August.
34 players have been named in the initial training group, while the final squad to represent the red and black in seeding matches against Southland, Tasman and Otago will be named in a few weeks’ time. The Southern Region matches will determine team rankings for the nationals later this year, with the top two sides qualifying for the Premiership division of the Jock Hobbs Memorial National Under 19 Tournament held in Taupo in September. The third and fourth ranked teams will play for the Championship title. Canterbury Under 19 are scheduled to play a warm up match against Canterbury Metro on Saturday 12 August, before the South Island Qualification kicks off against Southland in Invercargill on Saturday 19 August. Canterbury Under 19 Wider Training Group: Dom Devine - Lincoln University Mosese Fifita - Sydenham Sean Youngman - Lincoln University Sam Matenga - Linwood Ewan Milnes - Lincoln University Jacob Pepper Edwards - Ashley Josh Archer - New Brighton Perry Karati - Lincoln University Keanu van Staden - Sydenham Will Tucker - Christchurch Sam Porritt - Lincoln University Josh Michael - Lincoln University Darragh McGregor - Marist Albion Thomas McKay - Lincoln University Joe Robbins - Waihora Milan Bonkovich - Lincoln University Kale Thatcher - Lincoln University Cam Russell - Burnside Tom Christie - Christchurch Jo Meek - Lincoln University Connor Collins - Lincoln University Callum Payne - Sydenham Rameka Poihipi - Lincoln University Sam Gilbert - Lincoln University Ryan Neill - Lincoln University Ray Nu’u - Sydenham Logan Bell - Lincoln University Dallas McLeod - Christchurch Ngane Punivai - Lincoln University Samson Seinafo - Linwood Atu Manu - Christchurch Connor Garden Bachop - Lincoln University Derek Stowers - Sydenham Zach McKay - Christchurch  Marist St Pats midfielder Billy Proctor is one of two club rugby players selected in the Hurricanes Under-18 team to play the Crusaders Knights. PHOTO: David Brownlie Twenty three players from seven secondary schools and two clubs in the Hurricanes region have been selected in the Hurricanes Under-18 squad to play the Crusaders Knights at Westpac Stadium on Saturday.
The announcement of the final Hurricanes Under-18 team comes at the end of an exhaustive five-day development camp at Rathkeale College in Masterton. Hurricanes Under-18 head coach Darren Larsen said it had been incredibly difficult to select just 23 players from a group of 58. "It's been a demanding process to select a squad from the huge pool of talent that was available to the selectors. Now we're looking forward to the boys taking the learnings from the development camp this week and putting them toward a quality performance against the Knights." The match, which kicks off at 5.15pm, will be the curtain raiser to the Investec Super Rugby match between the Hurricanes and Crusaders at 7.35pm. The squad includes players from across the Hurricanes region with players chosen from Hastings Boys' High School (7), Feilding High School (4), Scots College (2), Wellington College (2), Napier Boys' High School (2), Gisborne Boys' High School (2) and St Pats Silverstream (2). There are also two Wellington-based club players in Petone prop Kaliopasi Uluilakepa and Marist St Pats midfielder Billy Proctor. Players who do not currently attend secondary school in the region qualify under the team's eligibility criteria based on their age and provincial union affiliation. Hurricanes High Performance Manager Chris Stirling was thrilled with the ability of the group and the potential they offered for the future. "We consider the Hurricanes club fortunate to be able to select a team that represents some of the best youth talent in the region every year. The boys selected will value their opportunity to wear the Hurricanes jersey and become part of a growing tradition of recognising our emerging players." The Hurricanes Under-18 squad forms part of the comprehensive programme for teenage rugby administered by the Hurricanes Youth Rugby Council on behalf of the regions eight provincial unions. HYRC chairman Gordon Noble-Campbell said the region continued to be a key contributor to the sport on a national level. "The Hurricanes Region is a strong contributor to the strength of New Zealand rugby at all levels, both through our provincial union teams and our Investec Super Rugby affiliation with the Hurricanes. This team is an important part of growing that link to create future success." The Hurricanes Under-18s team to play the Crusaders Knights at Westpac Stadium on Saturday, July 15 is: 15 Danny Toala (Hastings BHS) 14 Dennon Robinson (Hastings BHS) 13 Josiah Maraku (Feilding High School) 12 Billy Proctor (Marist St Pats Club) 11 Tai Neli (Scots College) 10 Lincoln McClutchie (Hastings BHS) 9 Folau Fakatava (Hastings BHS) 8 Devan Flanders (Hastings BHS) 7 Josh Southall (St Pats Silverstream) 6 Josh Bokser (Napier Boy's High) 5 Taine Plumtree (Wellington College 4 Naitoa Ah Kuoi (Wellington College) 3 Kaliopasi Uluilakepa (Petone Rugby Club) 2 Kianu Kereru-Symes (Hastings BHS) 1 Josiah Metcalfe (Hastings BHS) Reserves: 16 Billy Priestley (Gisborne BHS) 17 Jack Fleury (Feilding High School) 18 Ethan McQuinlan (Feilding High School) 19 Quade Tapsell (Gisborne BHS) 20 Tyler Moeau (Feilding High School) 21 Humphrey Sheild (Napier Boy's High) 22 Kienan De La Rambelje (St Pats Silverstream) 23 Jaylen Tuapola (Scots College) CLICK HERE for the Crusaders U18 Team *Live coverage of the match will be broadcast on Te Upoko Radio 1161AM (and on www.tunein.com, search on "Te Upoko").  A squad of 25 players has been selected for the Crusaders Junior Knights to play the Hurricanes U18 team on July 15th. The match is the curtain-raiser to the Crusaders v Hurricanes Super Rugby match at Westpac Stadium. Kick-off will be 5:10pm.
Having spent the week coaching a larger squad as part of the Junior Knights Development Camp, Head Coach Nathan Mauger is excited by the players selected. “This group now have a fantastic opportunity to transfer some of the learnings from the past week. We want the players to get out on the field, express themselves, show case their skills and really enjoy the experience” Mauger said. The Junior Knights squad is: Hunter Stewart – Christchurch Boys' High School, Canterbury Thomas Edwards – Timaru Boys' High Schools, South Canterbury Shilo Klein – St Andrew's College, Canterbury Melvin Pauni – Timaru Boys' High School, South Canterbury Jack Rose – St Andrew's College, CanterburyPatrick Thacker Cullen Grace – Timaru Boys' High School, South Canterbury Sam Darry - Christ’s College, Canterbury Caleb Havili – Nelson College, Tasman Finlay Joyce – Timaru Boys' High School Veitata Kinivuwai – St Andrew’s College, Canterbury Corban Harding – Christchurch Boys' High School, Canterbury George Prain – Rangiora High School Glen Beardsley – Shirley Boys' High School, Canterbury Graham Urquhart - Nelson College, Tasman Max Hughes – Christchurch Boys' High School, Canterbury Louie Chapman – Christchurch Boys' High School, Canterbury Fergus Burke Tahu Kaa-Goodwillie – Christchurch Boys' High School, Canterbury Nigel Satherley – Marlborough Boys' College, Tasman Isaiah Punivai – Christ’s College, Canterbury Leicester Faingaanuku – Nelson College, Tasman Patrick Elia – St Thomas of Canterbury College, Canterbury Ryan Barnes – Christchurch Boys' High School, Canterbury Rico Syme CLICK HERE for the Hurricanes U18 Team *Live coverage of the match will be broadcast on Te Upoko Radio 1161AM (and on www.tunein.com, search on "Te Upoko").  The Blues have been one of the last to name their development squad for the up coming school holidays, but it has not disappointed.
There is some outstanding talent from the Auckland region and this is a credit to all those within the youth game environment. Based at the Blues High performance facilities, the players will experience a professional rugby environment and receive development based around the NZR development pillars: technical, tactical, nutrition, physical, mental and personal leadership. Note - players from other PU's in the Blues Franchise will be published soon The Auckland players selected are: Hayes Okesene (Kings College) Millenium Saneviri (Kings College) Junior Rotuva (Kings College) Noah Perelini (Kings College) Thorn Parkes (Kings College) Aidan Morgan (Kings College) Fatongia Paea (Sacred Heart College) Sione (Taufa) Funaki (Sacred Heart College) Lemeki Namoa (Sacred Heart College) Zyon Holo (St Peter's College) Kalin Felise (St Peter's College) Paul Mohi (Aorere College) JayJay Su'emai (Aorere College) Mosese Pepa (Aorere College) Saula Mau (Auckland Grammar School) Tovo Faleafa (Auckland Grammar School) Thomas Strachan (Auckland Grammar School) Matt Timoko (Auckland Grammar) Simeon Latu (Auckland Grammar) Tamaiti Williams (St Kentigern College) Robert Rush (St Kentigern College) Caleb Milne (St Kentigern College) Mitchell Gibson (St Kentigern College) Wesley Tapueluelu (St Peter's College) Calum McNab (St Peter's College) Josh Wheeler (St Peter's College) Ezra Vai (Kelston Boys High School) Oliver Shepherd (Mt Albert Grammar School) Jack Casey Pickering (Mt Albert Grammar School) Terrell Peita (Mt Albert Grammar School) John Latu (Mt Albert Grammar School) Patrick Pati (Mt Albert Grammar School) Harley Maynard (Mt Albert Grammar School) TJ Ane (De La Salle College) Lalomilo Lalomilo (De La Salle College) Jesse Simi-Tuiala (Papatoetoe High School) Isileli Manu (Dilworth School) Tevita Hala (Dilworth School) Kisi Sau (Tamaki College) Christian Tuipulotu (St Paul's College) Fua Schwalgar (Southern Cross Campus) Check out the other Franchise squads below... Hurricanes Squad - Click Here Chiefs Squad - Click Here Crusaders Squad - Click Here |
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