YOUNG Wanganui horseman Tamati Butler has made the New Zealand Junior Polocrosse squad to tackle the Australians in Albury, NSW next month.
The 15-year-old Cullinane College student is a regular on the polocrosse circuit playing for his club side Kakatahi, although caught the eye of the New Zealand selectors when competing at the junior/intermediate competition in Auckland last month when riding for the Wanganui-Waimarino team.
While Wanganui-Waimarino failed to win a match in Auckland, Butler emerged a star gaining selection to the wider New Zealand junior training squad of 12, that was subsequently whittled down to a test squad of eight.
"We fly out to Australia on April 7 for a week-long training camp before taking on teams from all Australian states," Butler said.
"My older sister Kiriana made the New Zealand juniors in 2009/2010 and also competed in Australia."