Auckland schoolboys named in New Zealand Schools Development camp
Seven current Auckland schoolboys have been named in the 2017 New Zealand Schools Development camp.
The squad chosen consists of 49 of the best young rugby players in the country – Saula Mau (Auckland Grammar School), Fatongia Paea (Sacred Heart College), Tamaiti Williams (St Kentigern College), Lesinali Tovo Faleafa (Auckland Grammar School), Taufa Funaki (Sacred Heart College), Rivez Reihana (St Kentigern College), Etene Nanai (St Kentigern College) - will all take part in the camp in late September.
Auckland High Performance Manager, Ben Meyer, commended the Auckland players on their selection.
“It’s a great achievement by all the boys chosen and is a reflection of their consistent efforts and performances throughout the season with their schools and at the Blues U18 camp in July.”
“Having four Year 12 players selected and returning next year to play in Auckland is also pleasing to see.”
Those involved will vie for places in the New Zealand Schools and New Zealand Schools Barbarinas sides.
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.”
"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.
The players will assemble for a three-day camp on Friday 22 September. Teams will then be announced the following Sunday to prepare for matches against Australian, Tongan, Fijian and Maori Schools sides respectively.
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
Full Squad:
First name | Surname | School | Position |
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 - Cambridge | Lock |
Cullen | Grace | Timaru Boys’ High School | Lock |
Taine | Plumtree | Wellington College | Lock |
James | Thompson | St Peter's College - Cambridge | Lock |
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 | Nasolo | Hastings Boys’ High School | Wing |
Dennon | Robinson | Hastings Boys’ High School | Wing |
Siave | Seti | St 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 |