Egli holds breath for selectors' decision

There are no easy-beats down here and that means tough games every week. Last year, we did very well but this year it wasn't so good and we lost a lot of our close games.Bram Egli, fullback It's a big weekend for young Bram Egli as he attempts to gain selection into the New Zealand secondary schools team in Rotorua.

The Onerahi fullback is one of 60 young players to be selected to attend the U18 New Zealand rugby camp, a great achievement in itself but one that could see him earmarked for bigger and better things.

"It would be pretty good if I was to make it into the team, I'd like to say my chances are about 50-50 but it's really hard to tell," Bram says.

"I've seen a lot of the guys from up here play and from the upper North Island but it's going to be interesting to see how good the guys from the lower North Island and South Island are."

Egli has always had that something special on the rugby field. As the captain of the Northland U16 team two years ago, he was offered no less than three rugby scholarships to Auckland schools.

He chose Kings College and was the vice-captain of the first XV this year. His rugby has benefited from the high standard of competition he has struck in the Auckland competition.

"There are no easy-beats down here and that means tough games every week. Last year, we did very well but this year it wasn't so good and we lost a lot of our close games."

Egli has now completed his Kings' education and next year will study computer systems at AUT.

He understands the degree might take him awhile if his rugby career takes off.

"I'd love to play ITM Cup rugby in a couple of years' time," he said.

His preference is to play for Northland but admits he'll play for anyone who takes him if it gets him into professional rugby.

The former Whangarei Boys' High School and School of Emerging Talent student is the only Northlander attending the camp this weekend. He has been contracted to play in the Blues High Performance Squad next year.

The national secondary schools team is named on Tuesday. The camp starts today.