Rugby: Northland sons shine for NZ

Kawakawa native Joshua Goodhue was one of three Northlanders who took part in the New Zealand Secondary Schools team's recent campaign. Photo / APN

We all know young Northland rugby players are often poached down to Auckland, but there is always a sense of pride when they achieve.

Three Northland boys - who are schooled in Auckland - were part of the 26-man New Zealand Secondary Schools' squad, who played Fiji, Australia A, and Australia.

Auckland Grammar School's Akira Ioane, Mt Albert Grammar School's Joshua Goodhue, and St Kentigern College's Dillon Wihongi were all part of the side which lost to Fiji and beat both Australian sides.

Wihongi is a blindside-cum-number eight with Ioane also being a loose-forward, both of whom are formerly of Kaikohe, while lock Goodhue originally hails from Kawakawa.

All three started two matches, with Wihongi and Ioane coming from the bench in the other match. Of the side's matches - a 22-20 loss to Fiji, a 36-0 win over Australia A, and a nail-biting 17-16 win against Australia - the Northlanders made their presence known.

In the narrow win against Australia, Wihongi scored a try to equalise the game before it was converted to give New Zealand the win.

Ioane won the Bronze Boot for New Zealand's best player in the test against Australia.