Wanganui prospects in Canes set-up

HARD TO CATCH: Stephen Perofeta, the ever-elusive Collegiate No 10, is one of three Wanganui players named in the wider Hurricanes U18 development squad. PHOTO/STUART MUNRO

THREE classy Wanganui rugby players have been named in the wider Hurricanes Under-18 squad to take part in the annual development camp in Feilding next month.

Wanganui High School 1st XV players Chris Breuer and Daniel Kauika have been named alongside Wanganui Collegiate first-five eighth Stephen Perofeta. Breuer is a lock, while Kauika usually plays at fullback, but is also a handy No10.

While just three of the 57 players named were officially under the Wanganui banner, four included under Manawatu have strong Wanganui connections.

Liam Giltrap is a former Wanganui lad, while Jona Nareki is a former Wanganui City College boy and Vilimoni Korori a former Wanganui High School student. Thomas Stewart is from Mangamahu and a cousin to Sam Malcolm who close to making the New Zealand team for the Under-20 World Rugby Cup now being contested in Italy.

The squad represents 21 secondary schools; 17 of the players are from Wellington, 15 from Hawke's Bay, 11 from Manawatu, six from Poverty Bay, four from Wairarapa-Bush, three from Wanganui and one from East Coast.

Camp director and Canes development coach Darren Larsen is looking forward to working with the players in the camp from July 6 to 10.

"The camp is run by a group of the region's top rugby development people, including trainers, nutritionists and mental skills coaches. We aim that the camp will help those selected to take another step forward in the achievement of their rugby goals," Larsen said.

Convener of selectors David King said the quality of those nominated by their schools made the process of selecting a final group to take part in the camp a challenging task.

"The Hurricanes region is fortunate to have a large number of secondary schools offering strong rugby development for our teenage players, which made this year's selection process particularly demanding. Of those nominated, we believe we have selected the best representation of skills and talent for 2015."

The U18 development camp formed part of the comprehensive programme for teenage rugby administered by the Hurricanes Youth Rugby Council, council chairman Gordon Noble-Campbell said.

"This camp is but one of a number of exciting development opportunities for players in our region this year, including the Under-16 tournament, Under-19 seeding tournament for the Jock Hobbs Memorial Tournament and the Under-20 Heartland Development Series.

"We hope that all those selected for this camp take full advantage of the opportunity they have been given."