Etene Nanai-Seturo – Commonwealth Gold Meddalist

Having graduated from College only last year, young rugby sensation, Etene Nanai-Seturo, has certainly made an early mark in the world of professional rugby. The subject of a cross-code dispute between New Zealand Rugby and the New Zealand Warriors, he eventually signed with New Zealand Rugby after being released from his contract with the Warriors.

Earlier in the year, he had his first call up to an All Black side in the Seven’s World Rugby series in Sydney, joining fellow Old Collegian, Teddy Stanaway, in the side. Later, there was initial surprise when he was omitted from the men's Commonwealth Games squad for the Gold Coast games, but he was then called up after Ngarohi McGarvey Black suffered an ankle injury in a warmup match, and travelling reserve, Caleb Clarke was forced to return to New Zealand for surgery after being diagnosed with appendicitis.

This was a lucky break for Etene – and arguably the team – as the All Black sevens were the first to score in the final game when Etene was the first to touch down with a try in what proved to be a win for a Commonwealth Games Gold medal! We will continue to watch Etene with great interest!

Etene wasn’t the only Old Collegian to come home from the games with a medal - Jordan Hunter won a Bronze medal with the Tall Ferns Women’s Basketball team!