A step closer to pro career for Higgins

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GISBORNE Boys’ High School first 15 coach Tom Cairns says prop James Higgins has the potential to become a professional rugby player.

“He’s a superb ball carrier, with explosive power and good hands for a big boy. He’s mobile, a good scrummager and we would have loved to have him playing for us this season. He would have destroyed some front rows.”

Higgins is attending a six-day camp at the International Rugby Academy in Palmerston North.

The 18-year-old was first identified by the Hurricanes Super franchise as one they wanted to keep an eye on after impressive performances for Boys’ High during 2014.

But the day after Cairns, Higgins and current GBHS skipper Isaia Walker-Leawere spoke to Hurricanes officials regarding the boys’ futures, Higgins suffered a serious knee injury, which ruled him out of this year.

“The surgeons told James he needed to take a year to give the knee the best chance of recovery,” said his mother Liz. “With no rugby he left school and has been shepherding up the Coast on a Tauwhareparae farm.

Stronger mentally and physically“It’s been tough for him not playing and working, but life is tough. The hardest part has probably been the mental aspect but he’s stronger now, mentally and physically, and looking forward to the challenge of the camp.

“They pick two players in each position from all over the country and he’s looking forward to comparing his stats with the other players. As well as training there is also a game and I know he’s looking forward to that.”

Higgins has already signed for the Wellington Football (rugby) Club for next season and leaves for the capital in February.

“James had got a huge opportunity, what with going to the academy and then on to Wellington,” Cairns said. “Now it’s up to him to prove his fitness and show them he has what it takes.”

n Gisborne Boys’ High and Lytton High are competing in the Condor secondary school sevens at Kelston Boys’ High in Auckland from tomorrow.

GBHS and Lytton girls are in the under-15 competition tomorrow.

GBHS are also in the senior competition being held over the weekend.