Two of the standout players in the Tauranga Boys' College First XV have been rewarded for outstanding seasons with selection in the New Zealand Schools Barbarians team.
Loose forward Mungo Mason and first-five Dan Hollinshead will play against an Auckland selection in late October, after they return from Tauranga Boys' end of season tour to the UK and Hong Kong.
The Barbarians team is selected from the elite First XVs throughout the country and is the next best group of players after the New Zealand Schools squad that will take on Australia in Sydney in October.
The New Zealand Schools Barbarians team, which will play against an Auckland Rugby schools selection, is coached by former Steamers flanker and Sacred Heart mentor Dave Dillon, with Darren Larsen as his assistant coach.
Selection in the Barbarians caps a dream come true year for Mason.
When he arrived at Tauranga Boys' in Year 9 he had three goals - to represent New Zealand, captain the First XV and become Head Boy. He has succeeded with all three, having represented New Zealand at water polo last summer and leading the First XV and school this year.
"Selection is more than just a single achievement but recognition towards our co-coaches and the school," Mason said.
"It is definitely not any singular performances from Dan or myself but lots of background support that helped us get there.
"The ultimate goal was to make NZ Schools but there is a lot of mana associated with Baabaas. It is still a huge achievement and it puts you in that top seven or eight in your position in the country and is a good stepping stone to [New Zealand] under-20s and ITM Cup."
Like Mason, Hollinshead is well aware of the pathways available to him to reach his ultimate goals in rugby.
"It was my goal at the start of the season to really push for New Zealand Schools. So I always knew there was a possibility I could have a good crack at it so I am pretty rapt about it.
"It definitely helped playing Hamilton Boys' in front of the cameras. It got us out there and shown on the national stage on national TV. The ultimate goal is to be an All Black and this [selection] is a good stepping stone towards that. I definitely want to follow the sevens path to start with as well."
Both Mason and Hollinshead are off to Waikato University next year and are likely to feature in Chiefs development teams.
New Zealand Schools coach Russell Hilton-Jones said this year's pick of New Zealand's First XV competition was one of the most exciting to be selected through a modified process more closely linked with New Zealand Rugby's talent identification programme
"We're very pleased with the calibre of this squad.
"We know that many of these boys will now realise that the dream to represent their country playing a game they love starts here," Hilton-Jones said.
"The strengthened talent identification programme - delivered through coordinated programmes under the five New Zealand Super Rugby franchises - gives us a clearer picture of the young talent coming through.
"We know that there are future All Blacks in this team.
"This year's talent at the schools level has been very impressive - narrowing down to the last squad has been a difficult task.
"Those who are close behind have been given a call up to the New Zealand Schools Barbarians team."