Sevens heaven for schoolboy

Issac Te Aute, seen scoring a try in the national secondary schools final, is now in the New Zealand Sevens camp and set to play against Australia on Saturday. Photo/ Stephen Parker

Not many students get to swap the classroom for the chance to pull on a Silver Fern, but for Issac Te Aute it's been a whirlwind week.

On Sunday he scored two tries and led the Rotorua Boys' High School 1st XV to victory in the national schools final.

This weekend he is set to get some game time for the New Zealand Sevens team when they play Australia at the Rotorua International Stadium.

Te Aute, 19, was drafted into the Sevens camp on Monday. His coach, Ngarimu Simpkins got the call from coach Gordon Tietjens the morning of the national final.

"Gordon Tietjens called me but we didn't tell Issac until after the game," said Mr Simpkins.

"It's an opportunity for him to play against Australia, to see whether he's good. Tietjens is very impressed with him, he's watched him throughout the year and was at the game at Tauranga Boys' College.

"We're over the moon for Issac. It's really exciting for him and for our school.

"We know he's got the potential to wear an All Blacks jersey."

Te Aute's talents have gone viral, being featured on TV and shared across social media after he guided his side to the secondary schools' title.

His solo try was described by commentator Ken Laban as "one of the best tries you will ever see" and led to TV One presenter Nadine Chalmers-Ross suggesting viewers remember his name.

Te Aute played for the Under-15s side in Year 9 and in Year 10 made his debut for the 1st XV. This season he has captained the side and also featured in the school's triumphant team at the New Zealand Secondary School Touch Championships and the New Zealand Condor Sevens. "He's a very talented young man," said principal Chris Grinter. "Humble, focussed and now he's getting good recognition and reward."

He said the national sevens team was on a two-week camp but he didn't know if Te Aute would be away from school for just this week or for both.

"The school is feeling very proud of the team's achievement. This team has certainly shown quality across the board. I would expect other players to move into the game professionally in the future."

Te Aute's drafting comes on the back of the naming of the New Zealand Secondary Schools team, which featured none of the school's 1st XV.

"Richie McCaw never made that team," said Mr Simpkins.

"We believe we have some future All Blacks."

Issac Te Aute

* Captain Rotorua Boys' 1st XV
* Year 9 played for Under 15s
* Year 10 joined 1st XV
* 2014 New Zealand Secondary Schools Touch champions
* 2014 Condor Sevens champions
* 2015 Chiefs Cup champions
* 2015 National Schools Champions
* Drafted into New Zealand Sevens camp