Bright futures ahead for Hastings Boys High rugby champs

Hastings Boys High School 1st XV rugby team won the National Top Four rugby title for the first time on Sunday. Photo/Warren Buckland

Just days after the highlight of their secondary school rugby careers, the Hastings Boys High School 1st XV team have quickly returned to reality and their studies.

The community was on cloud nine on Sunday after the students beat Hamilton Boys High School in the National Top Four rugby final, winning the title for the first time.

Team captain and prop Kianu Kereru-Symes said the boys had a well-deserved day off on Monday after celebrating their weekend win by watching the game and having "a feed" together after the final.

"We had the day off to come back to earth again and relax and get back to where we're supposed to be; focusing on our school work and stuff like that."

He said the team were very close-knit, some playing rugby together when they were as young as 5 years old, but they would soon be parting ways as the school year drew to a end.

"I think this is the part where we go our separate ways. You never know what's going to happen.

"A lot of the boys are moving away and some are staying around. We could end up playing together in the future but you never know."

Team manager Jason Bird said nine Hastings Boys High School players had been selected for the New Zealand Schools squad made of up 49 of the best young players throughout the country.

"I think the results this year and the effort they've put in ... a lot of them are being recognised for that effort."

Mr Kereru-Symes said if he had to pass on a message to the next 1st XV team it would be "Don't lose it [the title]".

"It's has quite a big effect for a school like Hastings Boys High School and for a bunch of boys that aren't expected to do much. It's a big thing for us and it just reflects on how hard the boys worked."

He said one of the best parts of the experience was how the game brought people, such as sponsors and old boys of the school, together.

"I think it was pretty cool how it brought a lot of people together, a lot of people that weren't really involved with the school that came on to support us. That was big."

Winger Kini Naholo, the younger brother of All Black winger Waisake Naholo, said he was intent on following in his brother's footsteps.

The 18-year-old moved to New Zealand from Fiji last year and, after receiving offers from the Taranaki region, hoped to be an All Black one day.

"They're the best team in the world, I think, that's why all the people in New Zealand want to play for them."

Mr Bird said while most of the boys aspired to be All Blacks, they were of humble character.

"I know that deep down that would probably be some of their aspirations but they never come out and say 'That's what I want to be'. For them, they're pretty humble."

The team will be welcomed home at the Hastings Blossom Parade on Saturday where a float will carry the 23 players through the inner city, starting at 11am on the corner of Hastings St and Lyndon Rd.