Tapsell, Burke in national schools' training squad

Quade Tapsell in action.

TWO Gisborne rugby players have been included in the 49-man squad to attend a three-day camp on September 22.

Gisborne Boys’ High School first 15 skipper Quade Tapsell (No.8) and Fergus Burke (first five-eighth), who attends St Paul’s Collegiate in Hamilton, will be vying for places in the New Zealand Secondary Schools and New Zealand Barbarbians sides.

Burke, who attended Makauri Primary School and Gisborne Intermediate, played for the Poverty Bay under-16 team in 2015, when he was picked for the Hurricanes Development squad.

“It’s always been a goal of mine to make the national schools team, hopefully I can make it,” said the 18-year-old who is going to Christchurch University next year to study business.

“I’ve signed for Canterbury and will be part of the Crusaders Academy which I’m looking forward to.”

St Paul’s reached the semifinals of the Central North Island Secondary Schools’ first 15 competition where they went down to Feilding Boys’ High.

Match schedule — September 28: New Zealand Schools v Fiji Schools, Sydney.

New Zealand Barbarians Schools v Tonga Schools, Palmerston North.

October 2: New Zealand Schools v Australian Schools Barbarians, Sydney.

New Zealand Barbarians Schools v New Zealand Maori Under 18s, Palmerston North.

October 7: New Zealand Schools v Australian Schools, Sydney.