New Zealand Rugby and the New Zealand Secondary Schools union have today announced two squads for the forthcoming series against their Australian and Fijian counterparts in Auckland early next month. The representative New Zealand Schools Rugby side, and as has become tradition, the Barbarians selection, after A recent development camp.
Mount Albert Grammar heads New Zealand Schools Rugby selections
As could be expected national champions Mount Albert Grammar School have the most players in the Schools side with four selections; prop Robb Cobb, lock Waimana Reidlinger-Kapa, midfielder Paul Roache, and winger Caleb Clarke. National Co-ed champions Feilding High have two selections in wingers Vilimoni Koroi and Mosese Dawai, joined by St Patricks College (Wellington), Sacred Heart (Auckland), King’s College (Auckland), and St Peter’s College (Cambridge) in having a pair of players selected.
One notable absentee is another Mt Albert player, star of the national final, loose forward Isaiah Papali’i. Who is ineligible for selection having already signed a professional rugby league contract with the New Zealand Warriors.
National runners-ups Hastings Boys High did not have a player selected for the Schools team, and to highlight where the dominance of the school game is in New Zealand only three players from South Island schools have been selected while 10 of the 23 hail from Auckland schools.
Some notable young prospects
Eight of the squad return from either last year’s Schools or Barbarians sides, and several of the side have notable bloodlines. Loose forward Naera Tipoki (Gisborne Boys’) is the son of former Maori representative Rua. Hoskins Sotutu (Sacred Heart) is the son of former Fijian international Waisake, and hooker Bradley Slater (New Plymouth Boys’) is the son of Taranaki stalwart Andy and nephew of former All Black Gordon.
congratulations to both Damon Abraham and Hoskins Sotutu on their selection into the NZ Secondary Schools rugby team. Outstanding boys!
— Sacred Heart College (@SHCSport) September 26, 2016
Another is midfielder Billy Proctor (St Patrick’s, Wellington), a younger brother of ‘Canes player Matt Proctor. Billy who was the star of last years Wellington final, but perhaps a surprise selection given he missed most of this season.
The side will be coached by former Taranaki and Munster player, and current Hurricanes assistant Jason Holland. He is assisted by Gisborne Boys coach Tom Cairns. On paper the team shapes as one looking to achieve dominance through the forwards, especially at set piece, and create space for a group of outside backs that have real speed.
New Zealand Schools:
Props – Damon Abraham (Sacred Heart), Robb Cobb (Mt Albert), Tim Farrell* (Napier Boys), Xavier Numia* (St Patrick’s Wellington), Hookers – Bradley Slater (New Plymouth Boys), Flynn Thomas* (Southland Boys), Locks – Laghlan McWhannell (St Peter’s Cambridge), Waimana Reidlinger-Kapa (Mt Albert), Loose Forwards – Sione Havili (Auckland Grammar), Brayden Iose* (Palmerston North Boys), AJ Mua* (King’s College, Auckland), Hoskins Sotutu (Sacred Heart), Naera Tipoki (Gisborne Boys). Halfbacks – Tim Hogan* (Otago Boys), Carlos Price (St Kentigern), First-fives – Ciarahn Matoe* (King’s College, Auckland), Harry Plummer (St Peter’s Cambridge), Midfielders – Billy Proctor (St Patrick’s, Wellington), Paul Roache (Mt Albert), Wingers – Caleb Clarke* (Mt Albert), Vilimoni Koroi (Feilding HS), Mosese Dawai (Feilding HS), Fullback – Ngane Punivai (Christ’s College). * denotes 2015 Schools or Barbarians player.
Hastings Boys rewarded in Barbarians squad
The Barbarians selection is also a highly-talented group, with the 23-man squad featuring four players from national runners-up Hastings Boys; prop Kianu Kereru-Symes, inside backs Folau Fokatava and Lincoln McClutchie, and fullback Danny Toala. It’s a diverse team, with 16 different schools represented and while most come from nationally-recognised teams, it includes hooker Perry Karati from Christchurch’s Burnside High.
Another notable name is Wellington College lock Naitoa Ah-Kuoi, regarded as one of the best Year 12 players in the country.
A big congratulations to OBHS Coach Ryan Martin who was named yesterday as the coach of the New Zealand Schools… https://t.co/Qt88nnzWBR
— Otago Com Rugby (@Otago_C_Rugby) July 19, 2016
The Barbarians will be coached by Otago Boys coach Ryan Martin (above), assisted by New Plymouth Boys’ Sam Moore. The coaching pair seems likely to look to play with the traditional Barbarian flair and give the ball ‘plenty of air’.
New Zealand Barbarians:
Props – Sutena Asomoa (Wesley College), Kianu Kereru-Symes (Hastings Boys), Tevita Mafileo (St Kentigern), Sam Matenga (Gisborne Boys), Hookers – Ricky Jackson (Otago Boys), Perry Karati (Burnside HS), Locks – Naitoa Ah Kuoi (Wellington College), Cameron Suafoa (St Peter’s Cambridge), Tupou Vaai (Wesley College), Loose forwards – Kaylum Boshier (New Plymouth Boys), Sam Dickson (Otago Boys), Joe Johnson (King’s College, Auckland), Matene Ruawai (Palmerston North Boys). Halfback – Folau Fakatava (Hastings Boys), First-fives – Lincoln McClutchie (Hastings Boys), Kaleb Trask (Rotorua Boys), Midfielders – Scott Gregory (Whangarei Boys), Tanielu Bakulich-Tele’a (St Kentigern), Quinn Tupaea (Hamilton Boys), Wingers – Leicester Faingaanuku (Nelson College), Connor Garden-Bachop (Scots College), Fullbacks – Niven Longopoa (Mt Albert), Danny Toala (Hastings Boys).
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The Barbarians open the series when they take on Australia Schools at Mount Albert Grammar on Monday 1 October, followed by New Zealand Schools against Fiji Schools. Five days later, at Auckland Grammar the Barbarians take on Fijian Schools, ahead of the feature clash between the New Zealand and Australian Schools sides.
“Main Photo”
