Rugby: Young guns' chance to shine

The Bay of Plenty under-18 programme begins on July 26 with a game in Rotorua against Sir Thomas Rich School from England. A trial squad of 24 players has been selected to prepare for the upcoming rep programme, which is missing Tauranga Boys' players who are involved in traditional fixtures during the holidays.

Coach Brendon Webby says the game in Rotorua replaces the usual trial game.

"It gives us another opportunity to have a closer look at the co-ed boys in an environment with good players," said Webby.

The unbeaten run by Otumoetai College has been noted by the selectors and Webby is very pleased with how the rugby programme is going at the school.

"Those boys are going to reap the rewards from the programme Jamie (Davis) has started up there. I don't doubt that at all. You can see the difference it is making already."

Webby has worked closely with the Regional Coach Development Officer Chad Tuoro in identifying talent throughout the region. Most of the squad named are at secondary school, three play in the colts competition, and there are four players from the Baywide premier division, including Ryan Henstock who was in the Otumoetai First XV last year.

"We had a development day back in May where we sat down with the boys that were there and worked through what they felt their strengths and weaknesses were. Since then we have had a pretty rigorous watching plan from the start of the season."

Bay of Plenty under-18s have a pre-season game against Auckland before they have six games in the Northern region competition.

BOP Under-18 Squad

1. Jason Carter - Mount Colts

2. Kerry Power - Reporoa

3. Manuel Manuel - Trident

4. Winiata Niania - Whakatane Marist Seniors

5. Darren Gobalinsky - Opotoki

6. Justin Cossey - Trident

7. Brad Collier - Trident

8. Troy Webber - Otumoetai

9. Sam Redmayne - Otumoetai

10. Ezra Thompson - Greerton Colts

11. Tukuora Ngawhika - Otumoetai

12. Alex Johnston - Trident

13. Matt Ensor - Otumoetai

14. Thomas Allen - Bethlehem

15. Logan Norman - Kahukura Seniors

16. Cam Gerlach - Bethlehem

17. Keegan Long - Otumoetai

18. Luke Allen - Bethlehem

19. Ryan Henstock - Te Puna Seniors

20. Brock Smith - Kahukura Seniors

21. Will Gandy - Whakatane High

22. Jesse Church - Aquinas

23. Jamison Park - Kahukura Colts

24. Jordan Tahere - Otumoetai