NZ Schools rugby development camp squad named

Secondary School players from across New Zealand have today been named to attend the 2017 Schools Development Camp.

49 young athletes will attend the three-day camp in late September and vie for places in the New Zealand Schools and New Zealand Barbarians Schools team.s

Fresh off victory at the National Top Four finals, Hastings Boys’ High School has nine players selected, and is one of 24 schools represented.

The Squad is:

Finlay Brewis - Westlake Boys' High School - Prop
George Dyer - St Paul's Collegiate - Prop
Matthew Kemp Hamilton Boys’ High School - Prop
Saula Mau Auckland Grammar School - Prop
Fatongia Paea Sacred Heart College - Prop
Josiah Tavita-Metcalfe Hastings Boys’ High School - Prop
Patrick Thacker - Christs College - Prop
Tamaiti Williams - St Kentigern College - Prop
Sam Cooper - St Paul's Collegiate - Hooker
Kianu Kereru-Symes - Hastings Boys’ High School - Hooker
Abraham Pole - Otago Boys’ High School - Hooker
Shilo Klein - St Andrew's College - Hooker
Tane Te Aho - Hamilton Boys’ High School - Hooker
Naitoa Ah Kuoi - Wellington College - Lock
Samipeni Finau - St Peter's College - CambridgeLock
Cullen Grace - Timaru Boys’ High School - Lock
Taine Plumtree - Wellington College - Lock
James Thompson - St Peter's College - CambridgeLock
Tupou Vaa'i - Wesley College - Lock
Charles Alaimalo - Hamilton Boys’ High School - Loose Forward
Joshua Bokser - Napier Boys’ High School - Loose Forward
Jeriah Mua - Hastings Boys’ High School - Loose Forward
Simon Parker - Otamatea College - Loose Forward
Joshua Southall - St Patrick's College - Silverstream - Loose Forward
Taine Te Whata - Otago Boys’ High School - Loose Forward
Lesinali Tovo - Faleafa - Auckland Grammar School - No.8
Devan Flanders - Hastings Boys’ High School - No.8
Quade Tapsell - Gisborne Boys’ High School - No.8
Louie Chapman - Christchurch Boys’ High School - Halfback
Folau Fakatava - Hastings Boys’ High School - Halfback
Taufa Funaki - Sacred Heart College - Halfback
Humphrey Sheild - Napier Boys’ High School - Halfback
Fergus Burke - St Paul's Collegiate - First Five
Lincoln McClutchie - Hastings Boys’ High School - First Five
Rivez Reihana St Kentigern College - First Five
Kienan Higgins - St Patrick's College - Silverstream - Second Five
Quinn Tupaea - Hamilton Boys’ High School - Second Five
Tauterangimarie Kapea - Hamilton Boys’ High School - Centre
Josiah Maraku - Feilding High School - Centre
Isaiah Punivai - Christs College - Centre
Leicester Faingaanuku - Nelson College - Wing
Kiniviliame Naholo - Hastings Boys’ High School - Wing
Dennon Robinson - Hastings Boys’ High School - Wing
Siave SetiSt - John's College - Wing
James Stratton - Palmerston North Boys’ High School - Wing
Etene Nanai - St Kentigern College - Fullback
Rico Syme - Christchurch Boys’ High School - Fullback
Kaleb Talamahina - Southland Boys’ High School - Fullback
Danny Toala - Hastings Boys’ High School - Fullback
Luke Donaldson - St Paul's Collegiate - halfback (injury addition)

New Zealand Schools coach Jason Holland congratulated all players selected and commented on a strong schools' rugby season.

"As coaches, we are looking forward to what will be an exciting campaign,” said Holland.

“The standard of schools’ rugby this season has been outstanding and we have strength and depth in most positions.”

“We have a wide representation of players from schools all over New Zealand. The two finalists from an excellent Top Four final in the weekend contribute 14 of the squad; with nine Hastings Boys’ players selected,” said Holland.

Eight players from the 2016 New Zealand Barbarians Schools team return for a second campaign.

"Both the New Zealand Schools and the Barbarians Schools teams will be looking to play an attacking style of rugby and we are confident this group has the skill sets to help us do this,” said Holland.

Players assemble for a three-day camp on Friday 22 September, with teams announced on the following Sunday in preparation for matches.

Match schedule
28 September 2017
New Zealand Schools v Fiji Schools, Sydney
New Zealand Barbarians Schools v Tonga Schools, Palmerston North

2 October
New Zealand Schools v Australian Schools Barbarians, Sydney
New Zealand Barbarians Schools v New Zealand Maori Under 18s, Palmerston North

7 October
New Zealand Schools v Australian Schools, Sydney