Family ties face tough rugby test

Family loyalty is being tested in the Davies' clan as father and son find themselves on opposite sides of the line for a rugby match in Auckland next week.
When Kurt Davies opted to pursue his higher education in Hamilton, he had no inkling one day he'd be selected for the Chiefs under-18 squad - nor that his father, Darryl, would be a coach of the opposing Blues team in the same year.
But rather than strain relations in the family, Darryl reckons it will only serve to bring them together. "It's going to make us closer. He may not even take the field but, as a father, I hope he does play ... my family normally cheers any team I coach but this time, they'll cheer for Kurt," Darryl said.
The Kamo High School teacher wishes his son the best for next week's national tournament at Auckland Grammar, which will see the two teams clash on Tuesday.
But that doesn't mean there hasn't been any rivalry between the two.
"He'll [Kurt] ask me about my team, my players and I'll ask him about his team but we don't share tactics and moves," laughed Darryl.
"He'll ask me a question, quizzing me about my boys and I'll give a fairly bland reply, it's all good, friendly father-and-son banter."
Kurt, a former student at Kamo High School, is now a boarder at Hamilton Boys' High School, alongside former Kerikeri High School student Ben Cottle.
The halfback, who weighs in at 87kg, went to a region where no one knew him, but trained hard and achieved his goal of making the area's top representative team.
He hasn't ruled out a shot at the black jersey.
"I'll want to stick with rugby and see what it gives me, otherwise I'll go to uni," the soft-spoken Kurt said.
On what he thought about next week's match, he chuckled: "I think it's going to be a pretty close battle but I think we'll win."
Kurt will also come up against Whangarei Boys' High School hooker Ben Berridge - the only Northland player picked in the under-18 Blues side from the five who trialled at Rangitoto College on Tuesday.
The winner of the Blues-Chiefs match will play the winner of the South Island-Hurricanes match - also held on Tuesday - in Thursday's final.