Rugby: Returned tourists ready to fire

Rotorua Boys' High School 1st XV will get back into their Super 8 campaign this weekend following a trip overseas. Photo / Ben Fraser

Rotorua Boys' High School are hoping a rugby trip to South America will help them during the second half of the season.

The Rotorua Boys' 1st XV team returned home this week following a trip to Argentina and Chile, but won't have much time to rest.

They travel to Manawatu today to take on the Palmerston North Boys' High School 1st XV tomorrow.

It is an important game for the school, who will secure their spot in the final of the prestigious Super 8 competition if they win tomorrow.

Rotorua Boys' player Guillaume Martel, 16, said they wanted to hit the ground running after returning home from South America.

"I think we wanted to spend the holidays with rugby, rather than resting, and come back firing even more," he said.

"It was a really good trip. All the teams were quite similar in the ways they played. They were really big guys and had really big potential."

Rotorua won all six games they played overseas against other schools and clubs, which is not dissimilar to how they have fared all season. They have lost only once this year - to Hamilton Boys' High School, who are the reigning national champions - a side they will likely meet in the final of the Super 8.

The Rotorua school took a group of about 30 boys from the 1st and 2nd XVs on tour.

Guillaume said they struggled with their Spanish - only knowing a few words and phrases - but they had a great time and were well received.

Rotorua's opposition tomorrow, Palmerston North, have only won one match this season in the Super 8 competition. Rotorua still have to play New Plymouth BHS before the finals.