Rugby: Prop rewarded for focus on goals

Te Puke Sports prop Aidan Ross has made the New Zealand team to contest the World Rugby Under-20 Championship in Italy next month.

The selection of Tauranga's Aidan Ross in the New Zealand team to contest the World Rugby Under-20 Championship in Italy next month is reward for never losing sight of his goals.

The 112kg prop missed selection for the NZ team that won the Oceania Rugby Junior Championship in Australia last week.

Ross thought his hopes has been dashed.

But a standout performance for the Chiefs Development against the Hurricanes Development clinched his selection for Italy.

"The [Under-20] coaches always give you that speech that if you are not picked in the first tournament there is always a chance at the next so there was a little, little tiny bit of hope and I was hanging on to that pretty much and I managed to pull through," Ross said.

He admits to not knowing how he will react when he finally gets to pull on the black jersey.

"I am looking forward to it but I am not quite sure what it will mean. I am sure the hairs will come up on the back of my neck and it will be a surreal feeling. I am just hanging out for that moment pretty much."

Ross was a standout player in the 2013 Tauranga Boys' College 1st XV alongside first five Dan Hollinshead, who missed out on the squad for Italy after being right in the mix all season.

"I always had goals. When I was back at Tauranga Boys' my goal back then was to make New Zealand Secondary Schools or the New Zealand Barbarians side," Ross said. "I was pretty gutted when I didn't make either of those. I always knew in the back of my mind that my next goal was the New Zealand 20s."

When he gets back from Italy Ross will focus on another long-term rugby goal of his, to play for the Bay of Plenty Steamers.

"I want to play for the Steamers and pull on the blue and gold jersey. I will get this one over with and then that will be the next box to jump into and get amongst."

Steamers assistant coach Rodney Gibbs was impressed by Ross' attitude after missing selection for the Under-20s trip to Australia.

"Aidan never lost focus on his end goal of being a part of the campaign. He kept training hard and working on his game. His training and focus paid off when he put in a good performance for the Chiefs Development leading to his selection."

-The NZ Under-20 squad assembles at Mount Maunganui on May 22 for a pre-tournament camp.