Rotorua Boys' High School sevens coach Scott Mayhew says his team will be back strong again next year, after being knocked out in the semifinals at the Condor National Sevens competition.
Rotorua were the defending champions going into the national secondary schools championships in Auckland at the weekend.
They werebeaten in the semifinals by eventual champions Hamilton Boys' High School 42-12. Mayhew said Hamilton played well and they were beaten by the better side on the day.
"We knew coming into the tournament they would have some guns and that showed," Mayhew said. "However, we will take a top four position in New Zealand and with six or seven of the boys returning next year we will certainly be back."
All Blacks Sevens contracted player Isaac Te Aute, the star for Rotorua last year, missed day two with a hamstring strain. The good news for Rotorua was they had three boys named in the tournament team including captain Ngarohi McGarvey-Black, Hayze Perham and James Tofa.
Hamilton defeated Hastings Boys' High 24-0 in the boys' open final, while Hamilton Girls' High School defeated Southland GHS 35-0 in the 29th edition of the national secondary schools championships.
