School rugby: Rotorua Boys’ High players picked for NZ Schools and Māori U18 rugby teams

Rotorua Boys’ High School has been rewarded for its championship-winning 1st XV season with several national age group selections.

New Zealand Rugby this week announced the New Zealand Schools, New Zealand Barbarian Under-18 and New Zealand Māori Under-18 Ngā Whatukura Boys squads who will take part in an Under-18 Pathway Programme in Hamilton.

The selected players will assemble at St Paul’s Collegiate School in Hamilton from September 16-25.

The programme will culminate in three matches, one involving a Chiefs selection.

Following the conclusion of the programme, a New Zealand Schools team will play two international fixtures against Australia U18 in Canberra.

Rotorua Boys’ High School, Raukura, claimed their fifth national First XV rugby championship with a 43-17 win in the Top Four final over Feilding High School last month.

The side earlier lost the Super 8 final by one point in the last minute to Palmerston North Boys’ High School.

Three of that Rotorua team have been selected for NZ Schools - Cody Renata, Hunter Weaver and Jake Hutchings.

Rotorua’s captain Te Ariki Rogers (Ngāti Whakaue, Te Arawa, Ngāti Pikiao, Ngāti Koro) and Bronson van der Heyden (Ngāti Maniapoto) were selected in the New Zealand Māori Under-18 Ngā Whatukura Boys squad.

New Zealand Māori U18 play a Chiefs Selection match on September 20 at 12pm, while the New Zealand Schools team will face the New Zealand Barbarian U18 at 2pm.

New Zealand Barbarian U18 will play New Zealand Māori U18 on September 25, kick off at 12.30pm.

All camp matches will be live on the All Blacks YouTube channel.

NZ Schools v Australia U18 match schedule:

Australia U18 v New Zealand Schools, Viking Rugby Club, Canberra, September 29, kick-off 4.05pm NZT.

Australia U18 v New Zealand Schools, Viking Rugby Club, Canberra, October 4, kick-off 4.05pm NZT.

New Zealand Schools squad:

• Alani Fakava, Feilding High School
• Christiaan Botha, Nelson College
• Cody Renata, Rotorua Boys’ High School
• Daniel Lawrence, Liston College
• Henry Hunter, King’s High School
• Hunter Weaver, Rotorua Boys’ High School
• Isireli Qaranivalu, Hastings Boys ' High School
• Jacob Carter, King’s College
• Jake Hutchings, Rotorua Boys’ High School
• Jamie Viljoen, Palmerston North Boys’ High School
• Jimmy Taylor, Southland Boys’ High School
• Lautasi Etuale, St Thomas of Canterbury College
• Liston Vaka’uta, Sacred Heart College, Auckland
• Logan Platt, Auckland Grammar School
• Luka Makata, Saint Kentigern
• Marco Miln, King’s College
• Nehemiah Su’a, Palmerston North Boys’ High School
• Nico Stanley, Auckland Grammar School
• Noah Rogers, Lindisfarne College
• Ollie Guerin, Hamilton Boys’ High School
• Riley Grant-Faiva, Saint Kentigern
• Rupeni Raviyawa, Feilding High School
• Siale Pahulu, Saint Kentigern
• Sione Katoa, Liston College
• Tom Perkins, Nelson College
• Triumph Voice, Hastings Boys’ High School

New Zealand Barbarian Under 18 squad:

• Alapati Tusa Soagia, St Peter’s Cambridge
• Alex Palazzo, Palmerston North Boys High School’
• Boston Krone, Pakuranga RFC
• Drew Berg-McLean, Napier Pirates Rugby & Sports Club
• Brayden Neilson, New Plymouth Old Boys’ Rugby Club
• Charlie Sullivan, Sydenham Rugby Club
• Corban King, Marist St Pats RFC
• Elijah Solomona, St Patrick’s Silverstream
• Flynn Morey, St Peter’s Cambridge
• Harry Cornelius, Westlake Boys High School
• Hunter Kennedy, Palmerston North Boys’ High School
• Jack Potter, Nelson College
• James Tuituba, Fielding High School
• Jake Hill, King’s High School
• Johan Schaumkell, King’s College
• Josh Findlay, High School Old Boys’ Rugby Club, Christchurch
• Junior Aukuso-Slade, Saint Kentigern
• Kaiva Tulimanu, Westlake Boys’ High School
• Louie Treacy, Lincoln University RFC
• Mason Coulthard, Southland Boys’ High School
• Nathan Stephens, Hamilton Boys’ High School
• Nehemiah Lauvao, Hastings Boys’ High School
• Peni Havea, Feilding High School
• PJ Palamo, Linwood Rugby Club
• Tawhiao Whitam-Tekotua, Nelson College
• Not considered due to NPC commitments: Mika Muliana, University RFC

New Zealand Māori Under 18 Ngā Whatukura Boys squad:

• Alex Arnold, Hamilton Boys’ High School (Te Āti Awa)
• Ashton Savage, Northcote Rugby Football Club (Ngāti Maru - Hauraki)
• Brad Meek, St Peter’s Cambridge (Ngāti Porou)
• Bronson van der Heyden, Rotorua Boys’ High School (Ngāti Maniapoto)
• Dylan Giles, Christchurch Boys’ High School (Ngāti Ruanui)
• Ethan Webber, Taieri Rugby Football Club (Kāi Tahu / Ngāi Tahu)
• Inoke Vaingalo, Northcote Rugby Football Club (Ngāpuhi)
• Izaiah Kamana, St Peter’s Cambridge (Ngāti Maniapoto, Te Rarawa)
• Jay Reihana, Timaru Boys’ High School (Kāi Tahu / Ngāi Tahu)
• Jeremiah Tuhenga-Vaitupu, King’s High School (Waikato-Tainui)
• Jericho Wharehinga, Napier Pirates Rugby & Sports Club (Ngāti Porou, Te Arawa)
• Jesse West, St Peter’s Cambridge (Ngāti Apakura, Ngāti Maniapoto)
• Koen Rarere, Southland Boys’ High School (Rongomāwāhine, Ngāti Kahungunu ki Te Wairoa)
• Lafa Tofiga, King’s High School (Ngāti Maniapoto)
• Leighton Jones, Hamilton Old Boys’ Rugby, Netball & Squash Club (Waikato-Tainui)
• Liam Van Der Heyden, Hamilton Boys’ High School (Ngāti Raukawa)
• Malachi Osman, Tawa College (Ngāti Porou, Ngā Rauru)
• Neihana Mata’afa, St Thomas of Canterbury College (Kāi Tahu / Ngāi Tahu)
• Ngawai Amoamo, Sacred Heart College, Auckland (Te Whakatōhea, Kāi Tahu / Ngāi Tahu)
• Presley McHugh, Southland Boys’ High School (Ngāti Kahungunu)
• Raef Robinson, Hastings Boys’ High School (Ngāti Kahungunu ki Heretaunga)
• Riche Stephenson, Aotea Sports Club (Rangitāne, Te Aitanga-a-Hauiti)
• Rico Nicklin, Marlborough Boys’ College (Ngāti Kuia, Rangitāne)
• Te Ariki Rogers, Rotorua Boys’ High School (Ngāti Whakaue, Te Arawa, Ngāti Pikiao, Ngāti Koro)
• Tylerjay Wallace, Palmerston North Boys’ High School (Kāi Tahu/Ngāi Tahu)
• Not considered for selection to the squads above due to injury: Cruiz Simpson, Sacred Heart College, Ethan McManemin, Tauranga Boys College.