Lions Tour: Top young leaders given vital experience

Five of Northland's top young leaders were given the 'ASB Young Leaders Rugby Experience'. Photo/Michael Cunningham

Five of Northland's top young leaders and rugby players have been treated to a special day to improve their leadership abilities.

Shaniah Flood (Okaihau College), Reuben Marriner (Bream Bay College), Heavenly-Peace Manukau, Jordan Dwight (both Kamo High School) and Jack Doyle (Kaitaia College) were the representatives from Northland.

To celebrate ASB's sponsorship of the DHL New Zealand Lions Series 2017, ASB is rewarding more than 50 ambitious male and female student rugby players across New Zealand with an "ASB Young Leaders Rugby Experience".

Northland's young leaders are the first in the country to attend the leadership day.

The day started at the ASB Ambition Breakfast which was hosted by Scotty Stevenson and included a panel discussion with All Black great Justin Marshall and former British and Irish Lions fullback Lee Byrne.

"It was pretty cool to hear Justin and Lee talk about their experiences in Lions series," Doyle said. "They both told their sides of the tour and gave us a good bit of insight."

The breakfast was followed by a mental skills training session with Ady McKenzie where the students learned about what goes into becoming a professional sportsperson.

"We learnt a lot about different mindsets and how we can train better," Marriner said.

Doyle said they all learned a lot about different types of training and nutrition, which will help them going forward.

Dwight said learning about what it took to succeed in sport and what didn't help you would be invaluable for the quintet.

The group was then invited along to watch the New Zealand Provincial Barbarians complete their captain's run ahead of the match tonight.

They all received an Adidas All Blacks gear pack. The leadership day recognises students with excellent leadership qualities in their schools, and who show promise on the sports field.

Dwight thinks the Lions will get up in a tight encounter at Toll Stadium and he has his eyes on a couple of players in particular.

"I think the Lions are going to win. I'd say they'll win by about 15-20," he said.

"I want to see Johnny Sexton at first five for the Lions, he's a really great player.

"Getting to see some of the Barbarians players like Bryn Gatland and seeing how he will go against his dad [Lions coach Warren Gatland] will be cool."