School rugby team say sayonara to NZ

Members of the De La Salle College rugby team who will represent New Zealand at a tournament in Japan. Photo / Greg Bowker

De La Salle College has been churning out some of rugby's hottest players for years and now the Kolo twins - with their First XV teammates - are set to be its next big thing.

The school's First XV rugby team is headed to Japan to join up to 19 teams from around the world at the Sanix World Rugby Youth Invitational Tournament 2009.

After winning the Auckland Secondary Schools Championship and then going on to take the New Zealand Secondary Schools Championship last year, the team automatically won the right to represent New Zealand in the tournament, to be held between April 26 and May 7.

The Kolo twins - 17-year-olds Thomas and Sione - say they are excited about travelling "beyond the islands".

"The feeling's really good. I can't wait - just excited as," Thomas said.

Sione added: "It's awesome to know that we're going. It's going to be hard, I'm going to miss my family. But it's going to be good."

This year is the first time a school from Auckland has represented the country at the tournament.

Twenty-six players will travel to Japan, where they will play against teams from Canada, England, Korea, France, Australia, Tonga, South Africa and Japan.

De La Salle old boy and All Black Isaia Toeava was at the school yesterday meeting the youngsters.

He said they, like him, were normal boys from South Auckland who had been given an opportunity.



"I was like them once - here at school. I used to be excited when I saw the big rugby guys. Hopefully they'll do good too," Toeava said.

Deputy principal and head coach Brian Evans said the success had been the result of hard work and discipline.

Students and the wider De La Salle College community were now focusing on getting the boys to Japan, and were looking to raise $50,000.

With help from various rugby clubs and trusts within the area, the boys now have only $25,000 to go.

Mr Evans said: "It's going to be a massive experience for the boys and we hope the community can pull together to help them."

Donations to help the De La Salle boys get to Japan can be deposited at the ANZ Otahuhu branch.

Bank account: 01-0218-0093756-000 under the 1st XV Rugby World Cup Tour Japan.