Perofeta misses place in tour party

Wanganui Collegiate standout and Steelform Wanganui utility back Stephen Perofeta missed selection for the New Zealand Schoolboys team that will go to Brisbane to play their Australian and Samoan counterparts next week.

However, a former Wanganui Marist junior in Liam Giltrap has made the final cut.

Perofeta was chosen for the NZ Barbarians Schools squad, who will play a warmup game against the full New Zealand team in Palmerston North on Saturday.

The teams were chosen from 53 players who trialled in a development camp over the weekend.

While Perofeta will be disappointed to miss the Australian tour, it is better news for Steelform Wanganui, as coach Jason Caskey was not expecting him to still be available for the Pink Batts Heartland Championship due to the schoolboys' tour.

Perofeta, who will be continuing his rugby in Taranaki next season after finishing school, will be free following the Barbarians game and has scored tries in both his appearances for Wanganui this campaign.

Giltrap, now at Palmerston North Boys' High School, played club rugby for Wanganui Marist from under-9 through to under-13. He has been selected as a loosie for the tour.

After the game against the Barbarians, the NZ Schools team head to Brisbane to play Samoa Schools on September 24, Australian Barbarians Schools on September 28, then Australia Schools on October 2.