College Student in NZ Schools Rugby Team!

Congratulations to 1st XV Rugby captain Dalton Papalii on his selection for the NZ Schools representative team! Last week, Dalton was named in a 53-strong extended squad to attend a training camp in Palmerston North over the weekend. Today the openside flanker was announced as one of four specialist loose forwards in the 26-player NZ Schools team. The side will play against NZ Schools Barbarians this Saturday in Palmerston North followed by a tour to Australia. There they will play Samoa Schools, Australia Schools Barbarians and Australia Schools. A highlights package from the matches played in Australia will be broadcast on SKY TV following the New Zealand Schools v Australia Schools match on October 2.

The players were chosen following a thorough viewing programme and selection process that took place over the course of the season, culminating at the National Top Four First XV Championship which featured several players who had been nominated by their provincial unions for higher honours. It was at this showpiece tournament that the New Zealand Secondary Schools selection panel met to determine who would attend the development camp.

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 augers well for the future.'

Dalton follows in the footsteps of a number of Saint Kentigern Old Collegians to represent NZ Schools, including Ereatara Enari, Sam Nock, Joe Edwards, Blake Gibson, Dillon Wihongi, Jonathan Fa'auli, Scott Scrafton and Sione Mafileo.