Wellington's loss is Waikato's gain as Tapsell heads north

BLINDSIDE BOOST: Former Gisborne Boys’ High School first 15 skipper Quade Tapsell, right, will start at blindside flanker for Poverty Bay. Picture by Paul Rickard

GISBORNE Boys’ High School first 15 captain and New Zealand Secondary Schools flanker Quade Tapsell made a huge impression on NZSS coach and Hurricanes assistant coach Jason Holland.

But the 18-year-old Tapsell has been snapped up by the Waikato rugby academy.

Tapsell was one of the standout performers for the New Zealand Secondary Schools team, coached by Holland and Gisborne’s Tom Cairns. The team beat their age-group counterparts in Fiji 54-7, Australian Barbarians 49-6 and Australian Schools 34-11.

“Every time we looked at a video of the games, Jason kept saying, ‘Look, it’s Tapsell again’ . . . at the breakdown, and making tackles or big carries,” Cairns said.

“He was picked as an impact player and every time he came off the bench, or started — as was the case against the Australian Barbarians — the tempo of the side lifted.

“He did the region, the school and his family proud.

“He led the team in defensive tackles, and was the first player at the breakdown more often than anyone else.”

“Quade was picked for his work-rate, energy and ability, and he met all those criteria superbly.

“His work-rate through the cleanouts was unbelievably high.”

Tapsell’s decision to head north was made last year when he received a scholarship for Waikato University.

“I’m going to major in economics,Te Reo Maori and agribusiness,” said Tapsell, who was outstanding in a Gisborne Boys’ High School first 15 who were in a rebuilding phase.

“We had a very young team who will all benefit from the experience of playing first 15 rugby this season,” he said.

Tapsell said it was always a goal to be picked for the national secondary schools team.

“I wasn’t ready last year. I felt I had a chance this year but there were other good No.8s playing so I didn’t get my hopes built up.

“I would have loved to play more minutes but I was happy with the way I played when I did. I did my best and it’s an honour to represent New Zealand. It was awesome.”

Cairns said Tapsell wasn’t just a good rugby player; he was a good student and a role model: “What we want at the school . . . we’re all proud of Quade”.

• Former Makauri, Gisborne Intermediate and Poverty Bay under-16 first five-eighth Fergus Burke, who attends St Paul’s Collegiate in Hamilton, was a key player for the New Zealand Schools Barbarians, who beat Tonga Schools 33-19 and the NZ Maori under-18 team 28-24 this month.

Burke scored a try and kicked four conversions against Tonga and repeated that display against the NZ Maori team.

Burke, 18, is going to the University of Canterbury next year to study business. He has signed for Canterbury and will be part of the Crusaders’ academy.