Rugby: Te Arawa well represented in NZ Māori U18 team

Zach Ririnui (left) and Bailey Gordon have been selected for the New Zealand Māori Under 18 team. Photo / File

A number of Rotorua-based players, as well as several who identify with Te Arawa iwi, have been selected for the New Zealand Māori Under 18 team for 2018.

Western Heights High School's Bailey Gordon and Rotorua Boys' High School's Te Rama Reuben and Zach Ririnui have been picked for the team to face the New Zealand Schools Barbarians and Fiji Schools in Wellington in a two-match series later this month.

Players were identified through regional and national camps and selected on form from school, regional and club rugby.

New Zealand Māori Rugby Board chairwoman Dr Farah Palmer said it was an exciting programme for the team.

"This team and the programme that it is part of, embodies the principles of Poutamatanga and Taumatatanga that drive Māori Rugby.

"We are very proud of the large number of Māori players who have already been selected to attend the New Zealand Schools camp. Selecting talented Māori players in this team enables us to identify, develop and encourage our next generation of players to show their talent at this level within a Māori environment," she said.

The team will assemble in Wellington on September 22 before matches against the New Zealand Schools Barbarians on September 27 and Fiji Schools on October 5.

New Zealand Māori Under 18 team:

Bailey Gordon, Western Heights High School, Te Arawa
Billy Priestly, Gisborne Boys' High School, 0 Ngāti Porou, Te Aitanga a Hauiti
Chris Hemi, St Patrick's College Silverstream, Ngāti Kahungunu
Cortez-Lee Ratima, Hamilton Boys' High School, Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Tama
Damarus Hokianga, Hastings Boys' High School, Ngāti Kahungunu
Daniel Rona, New Plymouth Boys' High School, Te Atiawa
Jack Gray, Ponsonby Rugby Club, Ngāti Whakaue
Jayden Walker, Napier Boys' High School, Ngāti Kahungunu
Jordan Thompson-Dunn, Hastings Boys' High School, Ngāti Kahungunu
Kynan Stowers-Smith, St Bede's College, Ngāti Tama
Leo Ngatai-Tafau, St Peters College (Auckland), Ngāti Porou, Tainui
Leo Thompson, Napier Boys' High School, Ngai Tā Manuhiri, Ngāti Rangiwewehi
Niko Manaena, Southland Boys' Boys High School, Ngāti Porou, Ngai Tahu, Ngāti Kahungunu
Nikora Broughton, Hato Paora College, Ngāti Ruanui, Ngā Rauru, Te Āti Haunui ā Papaprangi
Oliver Parkinson, Auckland Grammar School, Te Arawa, Te Rarawa
Raniera Peterson, Upper Hutt Rams, Ngāti Kahungunu
Ruben Love, Palmerston Boys' High School, Te Atiawa
Samuel Sexton-Walton, Karamu High School, Ngāti Kahungunu
Taylor Dale, Otago Boys' High School, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Whatua
Te Paea Cook-Savage, St Paul's Collegiate, Ngai Takato
Te Rama Reuben, Rotorua Boys' High School, Ngāti Awa, Ngati Rangi, Te Arawa
Terrell Peita, Mt Albert Grammar, Te Rarawa Kaiwhare
Thomas Murray-Edwards, New Plymouth Boys' High School, Ngati Whakaue
Tiaki Fabish, Napier Boys' High School, Ngāti Maniapoto, Te Whanau ā Apanui
Zach Ririnui, Rotorua Boys' High School, Ngai Te Rangi, Ngāti Ranginui