Sevens: Duo look likely for nationals spot

Rotorua Boys' High School product Latu Vaeno, 20, is involved with the Taranaki sevens squad. Photo / Ben Fraser

Two Rotorua Boys' High School products could star for Taranaki during the Bayleys National Sevens tournament in Rotorua.

Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 19, and Latu Vaeno, 20, are two excitement machines involved with the Taranaki sevens squad.

They were both playing for the province in Mount Maunganui on Saturday at the Bay Engineers Provincial Sevens tournament. The pair should turn out again this weekend at Rotorua International Stadium for the nationals - if they make Taranaki's final squad of 12 players.

While it will be bittersweet for Bay of Plenty fans to see them running around for another province, both players are looking forward to the nationals and a chance to play in front of friends and family.

Vaeno, from Tonga, was a star for the Rotorua Boys' High School first XV team in 2014, and also helped the school's sevens team claim a national secondary school title. He has been contracted by the Taranaki Rugby Football Union for two years and currently lives in the province with his good mate Tahuriorangi. "I grew up in Tonga and moved here in 2012 with a scholarship to Boys' High. I finished there last year and Taranaki picked me to try for ITM Cup this year," he said.

He said he tossed up a few other offers before deciding to move to Taranaki, including playing rugby in the Bay or joining the New Zealand Warriors set-up.

He said his principal Chris Grinter had a lot to do with the move and he was settling in well in Taranaki. "My old man said leave it up to the principal because he offered me the scholarship [in the first place]."

Tahuriorangi is another talent from Boys' High and captained the school's first rugby league team in 2013.

He has also represented the WaiCoa Bay Stallions in the NZRL National Premiership but decided to turn his focus back to rugby union last year.

"When you think about it the only two countries where you can go to play league is Aussie and New Zealand. There is more opportunity in union to play around the world."

He felt Taranaki was a better province to play rugby in and he moved down there last year, where he completed a season of club rugby.

He said sevens was a nice change to the 15-man game and it was keeping him fit during the off-season.

Both players said they were aiming to make the Taranaki ITM Cup team later this year. Taranaki are naming their 12-man sevens squad for the nationals today.