"It's about increasing participation and also about increasing competitiveness," he said.
"This is the third year of the concept and we're really seeing the fruits of our labour. The First XV squad has 25 players and D-grade squad has 23."
Ahuriri's rugby sides' strip is eye-catching black and white hoops.
"We went out there and consulted about it and asked the rugby union and got their permission [for the strip].
"We wanted it to be very noticeable. We've got the Te matau a Maui, the hook of Maui, which is a traditional link to the Colenso emblem. With the black and white, we wanted the boys to feel pretty good about themselves. It promoted a lot of questions the first couple of years: Was it a rep team or a development squad or something?"
The rugby teams' home ground is Napier's Whitmore Park, deliberately chosen as "neutral ground" for the schools, Murfitt said.
Their hosts at the park, Napier Tech Old Boys, is benefiting from the project too.
Tech club captain Steve Bryan said the Ahuriri initiative has created a pathway into club rugby for the schoolboys.
Ahuriri's two teams represent 40 to 50 boys who wouldn't otherwise be playing and as they finish school Bryan expects some will be pulling on a Tech jersey.
He planned to further foster links between Tech and Ahuriri by encouraging Tech premiers to get involved in Ahuriri's training.
Ahuriri has attracted a crew of strong coaches. Magpies Ellery Wilson and Tolu Fahamokioa coach the D grade and the First XV has Gary Leahy, Tamatea teacher Dave Murdoch, and Steve Bennett, who coached the Taradale prems.
Leahy, who has been involved in junior rugby administration for 15 years, said the united teams had opened doors for "very talented" young sportspeople.
"Daniel and the crew around him put the whole idea together and started the dream and a path for these boys to play footy. It's really worthwhile," Leahy said.
"Hopefully they take their [lessons from] rugby into school with them and become better students and better citizens. They're really good kids."
