Eight young men who play their First XV rugby in Auckland are in the New Zealand Schools and New Zealand Barbarians Schools teams for their upcoming campaigns.

The 26-man NZ Schools include the St Kentigern trio of centre/fullback Etene Nanai, first five Rivez Reihana and prop Tamaiti Williams and the Sacred Heart duo of halfback Taufa Funaki and prop Fatongia Paea.

The NZ Barbarians Schools have named the Auckland Grammar duo of loose forward Tovo Faleafa and prop Saula Mau plus Sacred Heart threequarter Lemeki Namoa.
Players have spent the past few days in a development camp at Massey University’s Sport & Rugby Institute in Palmerston North.
New Zealand Schools Council chairman Garry Chronican has named the NZ Schools team, which features six players from this year’s First XV national champions Hastings BHS.

The New Zealand Schools team is:

Naitoa Ah Kuoi (Wellington), Charles Alaimalo (Hamilton BHS), Sam Cooper (St Paul’s Collegiate), George Dyer (St Paul’s Collegiate), Leicester Fainganuuku (Nelson), Devan Flanders (Hastings BHS), Taufa Funaki (Sacred Heart), Cullen Grace (Timaru BHS), Tauterangimarie Kapea (Hamilton BHS), Shilo Klein (St Andrew’s), Lincoln McClutchie (Hastings BHS), Jeriah Mua (Hastings BHS), Etene Nanai (St Kentigern), Kini Naholo (Hastings BHS), Fatongia Paea (Sacred Heart), Abraham Pole (Otago BHS), Isaiah Punivai (Christ’s), Rivez Reihana (St Kentigern), Humphrey Sheild (Napier BHS), Joshua Southall (St Patrick’s, Silverstream), Quade Tapsell (Gisborne BHS), Josiah Tavita-Metcalfe (Hastings BHS), Danny Toala (Hastings BHS), Quinn Tupaea (Hamilton BHS), Tupou Vaai (Wesley), Tamaiti Williams (St Kentigern)

NZ Schools coach Jason Holland said there were tough decisions to make in selecting this team.

“The camp has been very high quality and the players have really applied themselves over the past few days,” said Holland. “The guys have come to us in good nick and we’ve got a squad with strength and depth across all positions.”

The team will remain in Palmerston North before departing for Australia on September 26.

President of the New Zealand Barbarians club and former All Blacks prop Ron Williams announced the NZ Barbarians Schools team.

The NZ Barbarians Schools team is:

Joshua Bokser (Napier BHS), Fergus Burke (St Paul’s Collegiate), Louie Chapman (Christchurch BHS), Luke Donaldson (St Paul’s Collegiate), Tovo Faleafa (Auckland Grammar), Samipeni Finau (St Peter’s, Cambridge), Kienan Higgins (St Patrick’s, Silverstream), Josiah Maraku (Feilding HS), Saula Mau (Auckland Grammar), Ethan McQuinlan (Feilding HS), David Meki (Rosmini), Lemeki Namoa (Sacred Heart), Oliver Norris (St Peter’s, Cambridge), Simon Parker (Otamatea), Taine Plumtree (Wellington), Siave Seti (St John’s, Hamilton), James Stratton (Palmerston North BHS), Rico Syme (Christchurch BHS), Kaleb Talamahina (Southland BHS), Tane Te Aho (Hamilton BHS), Taine Te Whata (Otago BHS), Patrick Thacker (Christ’s), James Thompson (St Peter’s, Cambridge)

Coach Brad Mooar said his team has an exciting mix of players that have the potential to produce exciting rugby.
“It’s a talented group that has a good mix of power, size and skill. We want to see them express themselves on the field and represent the Barbarians club with pride.”
The New Zealand Barbarians Schools team will remain in camp in Palmerston North ahead of their first match on Thursday.

Unavailable for selection due to injury were Finlay Brewis (Westlake BHS), Dennon Robinson (Hastings BHS) and Kianu Kereru-Symes (Hastings BHS).
 

Match schedule

September 28:
NZ Schools v Fiji Schools, 2pm at Knox Grammar School, Sydney
NZ Barbarians Schools v Tonga Schools, 2pm at Sport & Rugby Institute, Palmerston North

October 2:
NZ Schools v Australian Schools Barbarians, 1pm at Knox Grammar School, Sydney
NZ Barbarians Schools v New Zealand Maori Under 18s, 2pm at Sport & Rugby Institute, Palmerston North

October 7:
NZ Schools v Australian Schools, 1pm at TG Milner Field, Sydney