Walker-Leawere's fantastic year gets better

IZZY AWAY: Gisborne Boys’ High School first 15 lock and captain Isaia Walker-Leawere on one of his trademark powerhouse runs. Walker-Leawere has been named in a New Zealand under-20s training squad. Picture by Paul Rickard

GISBORNE Boys’ High School will defend the Poverty Bay club sevens title at Rugby Park and leading the charge will be skipper Isaia Walker-Leawere, who has been named in a New Zealand under-20 training squad.

“Izzy’s had a fantastic season, making his Heartland debut for Poverty Bay (against Thames Valley), playing for the New Zealand secondary schools team and now making the under-20s training squad,” said Poverty Bay sevens manager Dwayne Russell.

Fifty players have been selected to attend the first NZ u20s development camp in November/December as coaches work to identify and develop the players who will defend the world u20 championship title in England next year.

“It’s a big squad but I wouldn’t bet against Izzy’s making it,” said Russell, who was disappointed that only four teams entered the sevens.

“Only Boys’ High, YMP, High School Old Boys and OBM are fronting up tomorrow.”

The good news is that next week’s Weka men’s and women’s sevens tournament will feature seven men’s teams, with “a strong possbilility” of another two, and four-to-six women’s teams.

“Definitely competing are Hawke’s Bay clubs Havelock North, Napier Tech, MAC and Brothers, a Marist/Napier Tech combination, Ngati Porou East Coast and at least one Poverty Bay team, depending on what happens tomorrow,” said Russell.

“The women’s competition could have anywhere from four to six teams who have been training under the guidance of Trish Hina (triple international - rugby, league, softball).”