Old Collegians return with Auckland ITM Team

Today we welcomed the Auckland ITM Cup Rugby team as they moved away from their usual training venue and chose Saint Kentigern College to have their final work out before Sunday’s game against Tasman.

For Old Collegians,  Joe Edwards (2011), Scott Scrafton (2011) and T J Faiane (2013) and Blake Gibson (2013), it was just like old times returning to the weights room and number 1 rugby field where they developed their skills and worked towards rugby as a career while attending the College. All four players are now working full time on taking their rugby to the next level.

Joe played New Zealand Schools in 2012 and New Zealand U20’s in 2013. He is now part of the Auckland Blues Squad. This year he played his club rugby for Pakuranga.    

T J Faiane also played for the Premier team at Pakuranga this year. T J was a New Zealand Schools player in 2013 and made the U20 New Zealand team that played in the U20 World Cup this year.

Scott Scrafton played for New Zealand Schools in 2012 and New Zealand U20’S in 2013. He plays his premier club rugby for Grammar Carlton.

Blake Gibson has been playing premier club rugby for Ponsonby. Blake played New Zealand secondary schools in 2013.

When our four Old Collegians take to the field with the ITM Cup team on Sunday to face Tasman, like old times, they will wear their Saint Kentigern College 1st XV socks! This week each team member will wear their school socks to acknowledge where their rugby careers started.

Following the team training session, it was a real thrill for a number of our current 1st XV players to don the training strip of the Auckland ITM Cup team and take part in the team drills including some contact work. Pari Pari Osborne-Parkinson, Sean Paranihi, Ereatara Enari, Patrick Herbert and Braydon Ennor were invited to join the training session.

None of these players looked out of place and we are very excited to think that they will continue to develop and follow their dreams of becoming professional athletes.