US beckons for teen rugby talent

MAKING THE BREAK: T J Beatson runs the ball past a Kerikeri High School 1st XV defender while playing for the Ninety Milers last season.

Kaitaia teenager TJ Beatson is leaving New Zealand on Saturday to take up a scholarship playing college rugby in the United States.

TJ (Trevor Junior) played for Te Rarawa at JMB level and with the Pirates in the IMB competition.

Last season he turned out for both the Kaitaia College 1st XV and the Ninety Milers, who contested the Northland under-19 championship. He was a loosie when he started with the Milers, but was moved into a backline utility role.

He seemed headed for the seventh form at Kaitaia College next month, but late last year he told his parents, Kaitaia policeman Trevor Beatson and wife Danielle, he wanted to do something different. He wanted a change of scenery and was keen to play rugby in America.

TJ has been to the US a couple of times, visiting uncles in Utah. He came up with the idea of playing rugby there through spotting sports scholarship opportunities on the internet.

Trevor (senior) said once he and Danielle got over their initial surprise they helped their son apply for a scholarship with Arizona state's college under-19 rugby champions, the Red Mountain Knights.

The application involved a Skype interview and sending video footage to Arizona showing TJ in action on the rugby field.

He was accepted and will join the team for training next week ahead of their first game on January 31.

TJ will be billeted with a teammate's family during the Knights' 2015 campaign. His travel costs and other expenses, including college enrolment, will be met by the Knights' club.

Mr Beatson said he had met the Knights' recruiter in Auckland a fortnight ago. The team played amateur under-19 rugby throughout Arizona and against neighbouring states.

Big college games attract university rugby talent scouts and if TJ impressed there was a possibility he could score another scholarship, which could further both his sports and academic careers.

"What an opportunity for a 17-year-old from the Far North," Mr Beatson said, pleased to see his son - the second oldest of four children in the family - excited over the prospect of the overseas experience.

At the end of the US rugby season the Knights club was involving TJ in a month of humanitarian work with Native Americans before he returns to New Zealand.

Mr Beatson expected this project to interest TJ, who had kura kaupapa primary education and speaks te reo Maori.

TJ said his friends had been shocked when he first told them he was going to America, but now they were saying they would probably see him when he got back.

"My rugby mates are proud of me," he said.