Selected: Gisborne Boys' High School players (from left) Dylan Bronlund, Nik Patumaka and Max Briant have been selected to attend the Hurricanes under-18 rugby development camp. File picture by Paul Rickard
They're thrilled and rightly so.
Three local 17-year-olds have been selected to attend the Hurricanes under-18 rugby development camp.
Lock Max Briant, No.8 Nik Patumaka and blindside flanker Dylan Bronlund — all hard-working members of the Gisborne Boys' High School first 15 and past Poverty Bay age-group representatives — will be among the 47 players from 14 secondary schools, three clubs and two attendees from outside the franchise.
The camp is to be based and held at Palmerston North Boys' High School from October 11 to 16. The players will stay at College House with the expert contributors being led by Hurricanes head coach Jason Holland (specialising in attack) and his 'Canes assistants Chris Gibbes (set-piece, breakdown) and Cory Jane (defence).
The Hurricanes age-grade mantra is to develop players and develop people.
'Canes recruitment and development manager Darren Larsen said the purpose of the camp was to accelerate the development of identified players and get them into a high-performance environment.
Briant said he found out about his selection when he got home from school and checked his email.
“I was pretty excited because three of us had made it,” he said.
“I messaged them straight away to see if they'd heard. They were both stoked.”
Briant, a 6ft 6in (1.98m), 102kg lock (23 caps) and vice-captain for the Boys' High first 15 this year, took up rugby for the Ngatapa Nippers while in Year 1 at Ormond School.
Patumaka, a 6ft 4in (1.93m), 104kg eightman (38 caps), is an old boy of Mangapapa Primary and Gisborne Intermediate while 6ft 2in (1.88m), 90kg Bronlund (28 caps) is a product of Awapuni and Gis Int.
Briant first represented Poverty Bay as a lock forward at under-16 level in Wellington three years ago, then played for the u16s again here the following season and went to GBHS from Campion College in 2020.
“I've enjoyed this season so far — its challenges — and I want to push myself while going up as many levels as I can,” said Briant, who in the past two years has earned the respect of teammates, opponents, coaches and supporters alike.
“I'm happy with how things have gone so far and I want to do more.”
Where Briant is the eldest of four and Bronlund is the middle child of three, Patumaka is the eldest of three and was one of Gisborne Boys' High's best in 2021. He is a powerful, mobile forward who carries the ball to great effect, makes punishing tackles and excels at close quarters.
In keeping with his solid, no-fuss, effective approach, his goals for the upcoming camp are simple.
“I'd like to learn what it takes to become a professional player, get more guidance on what I need to work on and how,” the third-year first 15 man said.
“I really appreciate all of the support I've got over the years from my parents, and coaches for training me and helping me to become a better rugby player: I'm very grateful to and thank all of the people who've helped me for that.”
Blindside flanker Bronlund, like Briant a returner from 2020, plays the game with enormous enthusiasm. His effort has never dipped below 100 percent since his GBHS debut last season.
“For me, the best part of it is just playing every game with my mates and the physicality of the sport,” he said.
“My favourite position would have to be No.6 or 7, being in all the action. As a flanker, you're allowed to be everywhere — I love it.”
GBHS first 15 head coach Ryan Tapsell has a high regard for the trio.
“All three of them have a great work ethic,” he said.
“Max is a leader, he's unselfish, he puts the team before himself, he's reliable, tough and unstinting in contact. He's developing his skills and puts in the hard yards.
“Nik was our most consistent player this year. He got us over the gain-line every time he touched the ball. He's direct and hard to bring down once he hits top gear: we relied on him in every game and he always showed up. His defence this year was his best attribute: he chopped down anyone who came his way. Like the other two, he has a bright future.
“Dylan has a huge engine. He only has one gear and that's foot flat to the floor for the whole game. He's going just as hard at the end of the game as he was from the first whistle. He has some areas to improve on with his skills, too, but that will come. He's the most competitive player on the paddock, and that competitiveness will take him places.”
At the camp, which last year was attended by former GBHS first 15 captain and openside flanker Amos Roddick and first five-eighth Nic Proffit, players will be placed in group designations “Coles” and “Perenara”. As a unit, they will come to grips with mental skills and nutrition, among other things, on Day 1. Day 2 will have a tactical component plus review.
On Day 3, positional understanding and mental well-being are addressed, while on Day 4 the forwards and backs will split up mid-morning. Community work with various groups will be undertaken in the afternoon.
On Day 5, the boys travel to Taupo, with “Hurricanes u18 Perenara” to play the Waikato Chiefs at 1.30pm and “Coles” to play the Chiefs at 3pm.
On Day 6, highlights and information from the games and week will be reviewed before prizes/awards and take-home messages are given before the camp closes on October 16.
It is a comprehensive, balanced programme and Gisborne's three attendees in 2021 will have their eyes opened a little wider as a result.