Rugby: Never say die for HBHS flanker

Xavier Hill PHOTO/Warren Buckland

Xavier Hill is hoping for a case of third time lucky at the Hurricanes under-16 rugby tournament in Napier next week.

If his record at the annual tournament is an indication, Hill, the first Bay player to appear at three of these tournaments, has a good chance of celebrating it on Thursday afternoon. The 16-year-old Hastings Boys' High School flanker was in the 2012 Manawatu team which finished third in Wellington.

He qualified for the Manawatu team coached by former Magpies prop Greg Fleming that year as he was attending Feilding High School. Last year Hill was in the Hawke's Bay side which finished second in Ruatoria and is one of seven players from that side who have been selected again this year for the Park Island-hosted event.

"We've got a lot of talent and we've developed a bit of a brotherhood. Hopefully we can do it and I'm pretty confident," Hill said.

For Hill, a Hurricanes title will be the ideal form of consolation for missing the South African tour with his school team after being forced to withdraw with illness. He had game time for HBHS's 1st and 2nd XVs this winter and the 2nd XV finished third in the Super 8 competition.

Waipukurau's Hill took up rugby as a 4-year-old and has focused on the flanker role since he was 8. He played for the Central Ross Shield team in 2011 and gained selection in the Hawke's Bay Ross Shield team which won all three of their games.

Hill was quick to reply when quizzed on his heroes.

"Richie McCaw and Michael Hooper, even though Michael is an Aussie."

Hill's style of play is similar to Hooper's. Hill and his teammates will need a never-say-die approach similar to Hooper's if they are to become the first Hawke's Bay side to win the tournament since 2010.

"Wellington will be tough but we know we can't take Taranaki or Manawatu lightly," Hill said.

Wellington have won the tournament for the past three years. Hawke's Bay have beaten Wairarapa Bush, Manawatu and Poverty Bay in build-up games.

Hill is hoping to pursue a career as a physio or physical education teacher when he leaves school. But that won't be until the end of 2016.

"I've got two more years at school and the goal is to play 1st XV rugby during both of those years," Hill said.

Hawke's Bay head coach Stu Drew is equally as confident as Hill.

"We've won all three of our build-up games. Now the goal is to go three from three at tournament," Drew said.

"Those seven players returning from last year is definitely a plus," he added referring to Hill, captain William Tremain, Mitchell Drew, Ajay Mua, Jacob Devery, Lochlainn Tait and Toby Hill.

Drew is in his second season at the helm and has Pouri Rakete-Stones and Doug McNaughton as his assistant coaches.

Members of the 2010 Hawke's Bay winning team to gain higher honours include prop Tim Cadwallader who played for New Zealand at this year's Under-20 World Cup in Auckland, utility back Trinity Spooner-Neera who has played for the All Black Sevens and Magpies and halfback Hamish Pyne who played for the New Zealand Combined Services team this year.

In addition to the four team top division there will be a six-team second division involving Wellington Development, Wairarapa Bush, Horowhenua-Kapiti, Poverty Bay, Whanganui and East Coast.

Following the tournament, a player-of-the-tournament will be announced as well as a tournament team.