Rotorua Boys' High School player Isaac Te Aute. Photo / Rotorua Daily Post
An extended 53-man national schools rugby squad will be effectively split into two groups when the NZ Schools and NZ Barbarians Schools are finalised next Monday.
Most of the cream of the 2015 First XV talent are included, though Rotorua BHS fullback and skipper Isaac Te Aute, who starred in Sunday's national Top 4 final and was named Top 4 player of the year, is not in due to being too old. Several others, such as outstanding St Kentigern lock Paripari Parkinson and prop Sesimani Tupou, are also not in the mix as they are not under 18.
There are 15 from Auckland 1A teams, though just the one from champions St Kentigern, flanker and captain Dalton Papali'i. Admittedly, injury ruled out several of their talented backline from contention.
Burly, ball-playing prop Alex Fidow of Wellington's Scots College is the sole survivor from the 2014 NZ Schools, but no less than six others are included from the 2014 NZ Barbarians Schools, a second tier combination which has not tasted defeat since its inception in 2012. That sextet is wing Losi Filipo, No 8 Marino Mikaele-Tu'u, lock Isaia Walker-Leawere, props Sione Asi and Antonio Ripata, and hooker Samisoni Taukei'aho.
The brilliant Umaga-Jensen twins of Scots College, Thomas and Peter, and nephews of Tana Umaga, are in the squad after being unavailable last year due to their studies taking precedence, a rare but gratifying move in this day and age.
Other chips off the proverbial block include wing Caleb Clarke, son of Eroni Clarke, threequarter TJ Vaega, son of To'o Vaega, midfielder James little, nephew of Walter Little, first five Tiaan Falcon, son of former Hawke's Bay No 8 Gordon Falcon, flanker Naera Tipoki, son of Rua Tipoki, locks Isitolo Maka, nephew of the former All Black of the same name, and Jacob Pierce, son of former NZ Sevens and North Harbour midfielder Scott Pierce, and Walker-Leawere, son of former Fiji and Poverty Bay rep Kele Leawere.
Orewa captain Lewis Gjaltema, who played No 10 for his First XV, is named as a halfback.
The squad will meet in Palmerston North on Saturday for a development camp, from which the separate squads will be finalised. The NZ Schools will play the NZ Barbarians Schools for the first time on September 19 at Palmerston North BHS before the top side embarks on a three-match tour of Australia, playing Samoa Schools on September 24, Australian Barbarians Schools on September 28 and the October 2 Trans-Tasman Shield test at Ballymore against Australian Schools in an annual fixture that goes back to 1978. The coveted Bronze Boots, for the best player on either side, will be up for grabs in this international. NZ Schools have not lost this game since 2012 in Auckland.
New Zealand Rugby high performance talent identification manager Matt Sexton said there was good reason to feel upbeat about this year's group.
"As with previous years, the panel is again happy with the level of talent and coverage across most positions. With such a fantastic season of secondary school rugby, it was great to see strong competition for places. Based on what we have seen this season, and the level of talent in squad we have selected, it augurs well for the future," said the former Canterbury and Crusaders hooker.
Extended NZ Schools squad:
Fullbacks: Joshua Buchan (Otago BHS), Sam Toa (Hamilton BHS), Stephen Perofeta (Wanganui Collegiate); Wings: Caleb Clarke (MAGS), Losi Filipo (St Pat's Silverstream), Jona Nareki (Feilding HS), Antonio Mikaele-Tu'u (Hastings BHS), Sevu Reece (Hamilton BHS), TJ Vaega (Kelston BHS), Freedom Vaha'akolo (Auckland Grammar); Midfielders: Peter Umaga-Jensen (Scots), Thomas Umaga-Jensen (Scots), James Little (Takapuna Grammar), Raymond Nu'u (St Andrew's), Bailyn Sullivan (King's); First fives: Wiseguy Faiane (Auckland Grammar), Josh McKay (Christchurch BHS), Ciarahn Matoe (King's), Tiaan Falcon (Lindisfarne); Halfbacks: Melino Fineanganofo (Auckland Grammar), Tim Hogan (Otago BHS), Lewis Gjaltema (Orewa), Kemara Hauiti-Parapara (Wellington), Thomas Stewart (Feilding HS); No 8s: Joshua Brown (St Pat's Silverstream), AJ Mua (King's), Marino Mikaele-Tu'u (Hastings BHS); Flankers: Thomas Christie (Shirley BHS), Liam Giltrap (Palmerston North BHS), Brayden Iose (Palmerston North BHS), Slade McDowall (Otago BHS), Dalton Papali'i (St Kentigern), Naera Tipoki (Gisborne BHS); Locks: Tom Florence (New Plymouth BHS), Isitolo Maka (Sacred Heart), Jacob Pierce (Rosmini), Ben Sa'u (De La Salle), Sam Slade (MAGS), William Tucker (St Bede's), Isaia Walker-Leawere (Gisborne BHS); Props: Harrison Allan (St Andrew's), Sione Asi (Otago BHS), Ryan Coxan (St Peter's, Auckland), Tim Farrell (Napier BHS), Alex Fidow (Scots), Xavier Numia (St Pat's Town), Antonio Ripata (Auckland Grammar), Takaji Young-Yen (King's); Hookers: Asafo Aumua (St Pat's Silverstream), Brodie McAlister (Shirley BHS), Ben Power (Hutt International), Samisoni Taukei'aho (St Paul's Collegiate), Flynn Thomas (Southland BHS)