It appears Hastings West rugby star James Craig is just as organised off the field as he is on it.
"I've got a scholarship to attend Lindisfarne College when my Year 9 studies begin next year. The long-term goals are to make the Hurricanes and All Black teams but if they don't work out I will get into business studies and accounting," a jubilant Craig said after he received the Taupo Trophy for the player of the tournament when the 115th edition of the Heinz Wattie's Hawke's Bay Primary Schools Ross Shield tournament ended in Napier on Saturday.
The Peterhead School Year 8 student scored 15 tries during the five-day tournament as his Hastings West team won the Ross Shield to beat the previous record of 13 held by Reece "Wheels" Akuhata, an older brother of his West teammate, prop Adam Akuhata, who like Craig was one of eight West players named in the Hawke's Bay Ross Shield team.
"Obviously I'm pretty happy with the record but the main goal this week was to help West win the shield. I was one of four players in the West team which finished second last year who returned this year ... we couldn't be happier," Craig said.
A centre who boasts plenty of pace, a solid fend, slick distribution skills and an outstanding work ethic on defence, Craig played alongside his cousin Derek Craig in the West team. His father Rastafara was a Ross Shield player in 2000 while his grandfather, former Hawke's Bay Unicorns rugby league centre Jamie Craig, missed selection because he was too heavy.