A group of under 18 rugby players from around the King Country will be heading to Mount Maunganui today (Wednesday, July 3) for what could be the next step in their rugby playing careers.
Chiefs U18 Heartland Development Opportunity
The players have been nominated for the Chiefs U18 Heartland Development Camp at 'The Athlete Factory' in Mount Maunganui. It is being held to develop and upskill players exclusively from the Heartland provinces of the Chiefs Rugby Club and during the camp the young men will have a chance to impress and possibly be selected for the Chiefs U18 Camp, being held at St Paul's Collegiate on the following two days - July 3 and 4.
Pathway to Professional Rugby
KCRFU community rugby manager Josh Standen said it was a good opportunity for the 21 development camp attendees to develop personally but also impress others. "They will go and get some specialised training, a bit of fitness testing and talent ID and if they do well they might be invited to the full Chiefs under 18 region camp at St Pauls… these boys are coming straight out of college rugby and a couple of younger boys playing in the local club scene so very exciting for our boys."
The under 18 players were the province's next layer of talent, he said. "The majority of these boys will play in our under 18 team this year for sure for King Country and… there are going to be selectors from across the Chiefs region there so if they leave school and go away to university or things like that there are opportunities for academies in the NPC unions."
Local Development Opportunities
Any who stayed to play within the King Country province would still be able to take advantage of local development opportunities, Standen said. "A lot of these boys have played against each other since 14 coming through our age grade rep teams and it's cool that the pathway is alive and well and they get another opportunity to get to the next level… It's so exciting for those lads."
The Squad
The squad is: Nikora Mathieson (Te Kuiti High School), Rupene Hemopo, Shadoe Allen, Jaydan Arahanga (Taumarunui Rugby and Sports), Ryan Hulme, Blake Flavell-Paintyer, Darion Dias, Rory McCullough, Boston Paul, Mattie Wade, Ben Parker, Nehemiah Baker, Caylis Elmiger, William Gilmour (Taupō-nui-a-Tia College), Bayden Emani, Tamehana Caldwell (Taupō Rugby and Sports Club), Riddick Rangitonga, Ivan Reid, Aperehama Williams (Waitete RFC), Te Kotahitanga (TK) Te Tawhero, Leyton Whapa (Taumarunui Districts RFC).
KCRFU rugby development officer Keith Middlemiss will accompany the group.
