RUGBY - Tall order for Berridge

Being too short has turned out pretty well for Ben Berridge.
The Whangarei Boys' High School and School of Emerging Talent student is now in the New Zealand Under-17 rugby development squad. He has a place on three intensive training camps this year, the first in April in Palmerston North.
But the 16-year-old made the squad as a hooker, because he was too short for his usual position of openside flanker.
"I've played openside most of my life but I changed to hooker last year," Berridge said.
"I was advised to change by Hector Davies [Northland rugby development officer] because he reckoned I was too short for openside."
Berridge made the switch just before the training squad trial matches in Auckland but he didn't need to worry about being tested too much on his new-found lineout skills, as coaches were mainly looking for a broad skill-set.
After making an initial cut-off squad of 85, Ben then got the call to say he had made the training squad of 30.
"I was just shocked, I didn't know what to say," he said.
The best part of just making the 85 was getting his name known amongst top rugby coaches.
"Even that was good enough but to make the 30 was just awesome."
He got the call while at the School of Emerging Talent in Kensington, where Berridge is a student.
SET students are still enrolled at their regular high schools but do some schoolwork at the Marist clubrooms in Kensington, where the timetable is flexible to account for training commitments. They are also given the opportunity to learn from guests like nutritionists and performance coaches.
With rugby training twice a day, SET offers Berridge a chance to keep up with both schoolwork and rugby without getting behind at a mainstream high school, which he said was "really helpful".
Berridge played last year for Northland Under 16s and will play for the Under 17s this year.
Being part of the the national Under 17 squad involves technical, tactical, physical, nutritional, mental and leadership skills.
They attend three intensive training camps throughout the year, and will effectively be groomed for the national Under 20s squad with development opportunities over the next three years.
Rugby has been a life-long interest for Berridge, who first played rugby when he was four.
With the Under 20s now his goal, Berridge has his sights set firmly on the future.
"I want to be an All Black," he grinned.
"I guess that's every boy's dream."
New Zealand Under 17 squad: Tomasi Alosio (Wellington), Fraser Armstrong (Waikato), Ben Berridge (Northland), Sam Cane (Bay of Plenty), Logan Daniels (Waikato), Scott Eade (Southland), Joshua Fa'agalu (Waikato), Michael Fatialofa (Auckland), Bryn Hall (Auckland), Ethan Hamilton (Nelson), Doug Horrocks (Wanganui), Milford Keresoma (Auckland), Tuitakau Kioa (Auckland), Joe Latta (Otago), Christian Lloyd (Wellington), Albert Nikoro (Auckland), Hamish Northcott (Manawatu), Reuben Northover (Nelson), Matt O'Sullivan (Nelson), Opetera Peleseuma (Wellington), Thomas 'TJ' Perenara (Wellington), Jacob Proctor (Bay of Plenty), Tukiterangi Raimona (Southland), Nick Ross (Waikato), James Schrader (Canterbury), Astan Talaia (Auckland), Jordon Taufa (Auckland), Aniseto 'Ofa' Tuungafasi (Auckland), Ihaia West (Hawke's Bay), Kaperiere 'Papa' Wharewera (Bay of Plenty).