Pick future All Blacks from under 15s

Rotorua Boys High School will host the New Zealand National Under-15 Rugby Tournament for the first time this month.

Deputy principal Fred Whata said the tournament, with 16 teams competing, would showcase the 'creme de la creme' of schoolboy rugby and be an extravaganza of up-and-coming rugby talent.

"We have a team working to produce a fantastic event and this tournament will be the best under-15 tournament ever," he said.

He said Rotorua Boys High School had waited 12 years to host the competition since first entering it in 1996 and was determined to make it a success.

More than 450 boys from around the country would converge on Rotorua and it would be a great opportunity for the local public to see the talent pool for future All Blacks.

"There are always two or three All Blacks that come from this tournament. It will be the pinnacle beginning of schoolboy rugby for our under-15 team," he said.

The school has organised activities and entertainment including corporate boxes, refreshments and physiotherapy for players.

Under-15 co-coach James Porter said the Boys' High team was full of talent and looking forward to the challenge of competing against some of the best teams in the country.

"We've been training really hard for this tournament.

"It's a huge opportunity for the boys who have played local teams plenty of times. This will be their first taste of national teams and a great chance for them to gauge themselves at a national level."

Porter said the toughest competition would come from Mt Albert Grammar, the Auckland competition winners, and Hamilton Boys' High School who topped the Hamilton and Chiefs region.

"This is a chance for our young men to be identified as up-and-coming talent for a strong Rotorua Boys' High School 1st XV.

"We have some real stars. Six of them have already made the [Bay of Plenty Rugby Union under-15] team this year," Porter said.

The 16 teams competing in the New Zealand National Under-15 Rugby Tournament are Auckland Boys' Grammar, Wesley College, Mt Albert Grammar, Massey, Palmerston North Boys' High, Hamilton Boys' High, Tauranga Boys' High, Hastings Boys' High, St Patricks Town, Wellington College, Christchurch Boys, St Bede's and Rotorua Boys' High.

The event will kick off on Monday with pool games at Kahukura and Whakarewarewa rugby clubs from 9.45am.

All games are open to the public and admission is free.