“They gave themselves the best opportunity by being not just punctual, but in fact early.
“They were engaged in the seminars and we were impressed by their application and execution.”
The main purpose of the camp is to collect and collate data for the Hurricanes and New Zealand Schools’ selectors.
Testing of players eligible for selection in the New Zealand Schools team under Hurricanes assistant coach Chris Gibbs is done nationwide. Nominations are made by the regions on behalf of those who, if they are ultimately selected in late September, might represent their country against the Australian under-18s in Wellington on October 4.
The testing in Hawke’s Bay on Thursday is not to be confused with the four-day New Zealand Barbarians-Hurricanes camp — which former Gisborne Boys’ High School first 15 captain Amos Roddick and Nic Proffit attended at Napier in 2020 — to be held in Palmerston North in October.
Larsen was clear as to the Hurricanes and rugby fraternity’s wider purpose of the testing in Hastings.
“We look at players who turn up with a high-performance mindset, attitude and desire to grow,” he said.
“The numbers recorded in the tests, such as the yo-yo test, don’t lie: we get average, good, excellent. We’ve given all of the boys some information, and now it’s up to them as to what they do with that from this point.”
Gisborne Boys’ High School vice-captain and lock Briant, 17, No.8 Patumaka, 17, first-five-cum-fullback Maxwell, 16, and blindside flanker Bronlund, 16, all took a great deal from their three gut-busting hours at the Fitness Centre.
Briant said: “The testing was tough, but we learned a lot from the nutrition, strength and conditioning workshops.”
Patumaka had his eyes opened.
“I didn’t know what level of fitness was required to be a New Zealand Schools player until the Hurricanes staff showed us the standard that those guys perform at,” he said. “It’s a very high standard.”
The Gisborne attendees have benefited greatly from the time and expertise of first-15 trainer Luke Bradley, alongside whom they have made gains and improvements in the past two years.
Maxwell said: “We were in good nick coming into the testing. The players around me made me want to push myself harder, to record better numbers.”
Bronlund trains for and plays his rugby with relish.
“I was excited and keen to see how I compared with other flankers in the Hurricanes region, and also to take in what I could to help improve my game,” he said.
“The four of us were grateful for the opportunity to be tested but it’s a shame that Ben Phelps — one of our most dedicated players — couldn’t come.”
Openside flanker Phelps, 16, who has been one of the most consistent and energetic local players of his age this season, was chosen to be tested but was unable to attend last Thursday’s event due to injury.
Of the 32 attendees who did the yo-yo test, Bronlund was the fittest forward, with a score of 18.1, and Maxwell was the last man standing of the backs, with 18.6.
