Rathkeale College are one of seven teams contesting the first-ever Central North Island secondary schoolboys first XV rugby competition.
Joining them there are St Johns of Hastings, St Pauls Collegiate of Hamilton, Francis Douglas Memorial of New Plymouth, Wanganui College, Feilding High and Lindisfarne College of Hastings.
Manager Brian Jamessaid Rathkeale was keen to give their top rugby players greater exposure by playing in a competition that pitted them against some of the best secondary school sides in the country.
And there was also the hope it would help encourage their promising rugby talent to stay on at Rathkeale rather than be "poached" by other bigger institutions aiming to strengthen their own first XVs.
"Everything about what we are doing is positive, it's good for the players and it's good for the college," James said. "We're certainly not under-estimating how tough the games are going to be but we're looking forward to the challenge."
To say Rathkeale had a baptism of fire when first-round matches were played last weekend would be a gross understatement. They were drawn away to Francis Douglas, winners of 21 of their 25 matches last season and already touted as the team to beat in the Central North Island competition.
Rathkeale competed well in a first half that ended with Francis Douglas 31-10 ahead but were outgunned in the second, their rivals streaking away to win 72-10. Tom Collins scored a try while George Deans kicked a penalty and a conversion.
Feilding High, third in the national co-ed tournament last year, beat Wanganui 31-12 and St Pauls defeated St Johns 52-17.
Coached by two Wairarapa-Bush stalwarts in Deon van Deventer and Joe Harwood, Rathkeale will meet St Johns at Rathkeale on Saturday in a match that will kick off at noon.
