Rugby: Student secures top scholarship

John Bell in action for Northland. Photo/John Stone.

Another member of the championship- winning Kaitaia College 1st XV side has secured a rugby scholarship with a prestigious Auckland school.

John Bell of Pukepoto has been awarded a Year 13 scholarship with top rugby academy, Sacred Heart College in Auckland, which caps off a great year of rugby for the 17-year-old. He played in a utility backline role for both the Kaitaia College and 90 Milers sides which won the Northland 1st XV and Northland under-19 championships respectively this season under coach Dave Jurlina.

Bell also gained selection into the Northland under-18 A team with several of his Milers and College teammates and playing in this competition allowed him to be spotted by the Sacred Heart scouts.

He is also one of three players coached by Jurlina this year who are going on to play "next level" rugby.

Teammate Shelford Murray is heading to Auckland to take up a Kings College scholarship, while Hamish Pomare was recently picked up by the Penrith Panthers NRL franchise.

Bell - who plays in both the local touch module on Thursdays and the social seven-a-side football tournament on Wednesday evening - will also feature for the Kaitaia College Sevens team which, as Northland champions, is attending the Condor Sevens secondary school nationals at Kelston Boys' High in Auckland this Saturday and Sunday.

The side leaves tomorrow; footage from the Condor Sevens is apparently being broadcast live on Sky TV.

In other rugby news, the Northland Rugby Union is holding an informal end-of-year prizegiving for all its rep teams this Sunday. The union expects to cater for an estimated 400-plus players who gained provincial honours in 2013 playing in either under-14s, 15s, 16s, 18s, secondary school girls, colts and development grade sides, who will enjoy a skills session followed by a roast meal at staggered times at Marist RFC.