Kuranui student in NZ school sevens

Kuranui College sixth former Michael Wilson may have a laid-back approach to his sporting career but he has already made a huge impact at both rugby and athletics.
Wilson, 16, was named in the New Zealand secondary schools sevens rugby team at the conclusion of the Condor tournament in Hamilton over Queen's Birthday weekend, a tourney in which Kuranui College represented the Wairarapa-Bush union and excelled themselves by placing sixth overall.
Playing in his usual position of wing Wilson relished the attacking opportunities provided him and scored nine tries over Kuranui's six games, many of them starting from well inside his own territory.
For Wilson this year is the first time he has been involved in sevens rugby in a serious fashion and while he admits to having little knowledge of the intricacies of the game he thoroughly enjoys it.
"I like getting the ball in space and being able to run and you get more chance to do that in sevens," he said. "A lot of the time it's just a case of going flat out and hoping that no-one can catch up with you."
Not that Wilson has failed to take the limelight in the 15-a-side game too. He is a member of the Kuranui College first XV which currently lies second on the points table in their Wellington secondary schools competition with his try tally there presently standing at six.
Ask Wilson what he likes most about rugby and it's hardly surprising then that the answer is "scoring tries."
"I don't really get into the tactical side of it too much, I just try to do what the coaches tell me to do," he said.
But despite his successes at rugby it is athletics which Wilson regards as his number one sport.
Sprinting is his forte and a seventh placing in the 200m at the last national secondary schools championships and a similar placing in the 100m at the last North Island secondary schools championships speak volumes for his potential, especially when you take into account that until now he has received very little coaching and regular training sessions have not been on his agenda.
"I've really never got serious about training?..I've just gone out there and run," he said.
That situation will change this week, however, when Wilson comes under the tutelage of a coach from the Wellington area and he is looking forward to seeing what sort of improvement that will bring. "I'd like to think I can go a bit faster and I guess I'll find out,' he said.