League: Youngsters' chance to shine

Bay of Plenty's Sonny Perham, left, in action during the Rangatahi Rugby League Tournament last year. Photo / Ben Fraser

NRL scouts will have their pens and clipboards at the ready when the Rangatahi Rugby League Tournament arrives in Rotorua.

The annual New Zealand Maori Rugby League tournament has been running for 15 years and features many of the best young league players in the country.

Scouts from nine NRL clubs will be attending the tournament this weekend. The event starts tomorrow and runs until Sunday.

Held at Puketawhero Park each year, the tournament sees age-group teams represent their regions and iwi at under-15 and under-17 level. A highlight of the weekend festival will also see the Auckland men's representative side play the New Zealand Maori residents at Puketawhero Park. That match will be played under lights at 6pm tomorrow.

Auckland head coach Richie Blackmore, a former Auckland Warriors player, said they would be bringing down top players from the prestigious Fox Memorial club competition.

"We're excited about the potential of this squad, with a number of our players having been on the fringe of NSW Cup selection recently," Blackmore said.

"It's exciting that the full Auckland rep side is back in action, the jersey has such a long and rich history, I understand that and the players understand that. It's an honour to be a part of this occasion."

The Auckland side boasts the likes of former Kiwi international Tevita Latu.

The New Zealand Maori residents team is also largely made up of players from the Fox Memorial club competition in Auckland.

"It's an impressive line-up and we will have to be switched on if we want to beat them," Blackmore said.

Meanwhile, the Rangatahi Rugby League Tournament will feature nine teams in the under-17s grade and six teams in the under-15s grade.

Bay of Plenty Maori under-17 coach Paul Nahu said his team were looking forward to the big occasion.

Nahu said it would be a tough tournament but they wanted to progress as far as possible.

"Our approach is we're going in this tournament to win. It is a big ask, as it is a high-calibre tournament with some very good teams, but that is what we will be aiming for."

The final of the under-15s grade will be played at 2pm on Sunday, with the final of the under-17s grade at 3pm.

Teams competing at the 2015 Rangatahi Rugby League Tournament:
•Under-17s: Waikato Maori, Nga Hau o Poneke, Auckland Maori, BOP Maori, Tamaki Makaurau, Taranaki Whanui, Coastline Maori, Te Awa Kairangi, Te Arawa.
•Under-15s: Waikato Maori, Te Whanganui A Tara, Auckland Maori, BOP Maori, Taranaki Whanui, Te Awa Kairangi.

Match details
Auckland versus New Zealand Maori residents
Saturday, 6pm,
Puketawhero Park, $5 entry