“We are sure [Ngāti Porou East Coast] players will make their mark in this team and in the future.”
In a new initiative for the Chiefs Rugby Club, five U16 players will be included in the U18 squad as “apprentice players”.
This would give younger talent an early taste of a high-performance environment to help them prepare for the step up to the next level of rugby, the club said.
Former Chiefs player and current athlete development coach Liam Messam has been appointed head coach of the U18 team, with support from fellow former All Black Hika Elliot, the rugby director of recently crowned schoolboy rugby champions Rotorua Boys’ High School.
Messam said he was impressed with the players and the coaching team.
“We are really proud to reward people who are achieving to a high standard in our schools, clubs and provincial unions.
In a new initiative for the Chiefs, five U16 players will be included in the U18 squad as “apprentice players”. Photo / Chiefs Rugby Club
“To have three coaches involved with the University of Waikato Chiefs U18 team who have had outstanding success in 2025 with their respective First XVs is an acknowledgement of their contribution to developing our future Chiefs.”
The Chiefs U18s-New Zealand Māori U18 game will kick off at 12pm on September 20.
