Rotorua's boys make the big time

Proof of Rotorua's success as a modern rugby breeding ground will be reinforced during next year's Super 14 season.

More specifically, another batch of former Rotorua Boys' High School stars are set to feature in next year's competition.

This week former students Mike Delany and Cory Aporo, both Bay of Plenty Steamers this year, and Waikato's Steven Setephano, were added to the Hamilton-based Chiefs wider training squad for next year.

Rotorua Boys' High School's 1st XV teams have been among New Zealand's best secondary schools performers in the last decade, winning regional, national and world titles and the Moascar Cup - the secondary schools equivalent to the Ranfurly Shield.

The Chiefs now have eight Bay of Plenty-based footballers in training with Ben Castle, Sims Davison, Tanirau Latimer, Jamie Nutbrown, Murray Williams and Anthony Tahana already in the playing squad.

Delany and Aporo were considered unlucky to miss out on initial places and their selection confirms they are but an injury away from the big time. Setephano has been with Waikato since leaving Rotorua Boys'.

The trio join former school mate Liam Messam and Tahana, a graduate of Rotorua's Western Heights High School, in the Chiefs training camp.

Other New Zealand Super 14 franchises also feature Rotorua old boys.

New Zealand's longest serving Super player, former All Black Caleb Ralph, who went to Western Heights, is part of the red and black furniture after eight seasons with the Crusaders.

The city's most recent All Black Craig Newby and his lofty Otago sidekick Tom Donnelly - who both played at Rotorua Boys' in the last eight years - are regulars with the Highlanders while Fijian-born flyer Vili Waqaseduadua, who played for the school in 2002, is in the Blues squad.

Rotorua Boys' High principal Chris Grinter knows his old boys well, having coached the school's 1st XV through much of the squads' successes.

"We've got into the top four, six of the last nine years - no other school has done that ... the real satisfaction is watching these guys grow and develop - that's the motivation - it's not actually the silverware," said Grinter, who has coached 25 secondary school 1st XV teams.

The Rotorua old boys Super 14 group come from diverse backgrounds and Grinter said their selection and success further reinforced to current students that "a keen man from Rotorua", willing to work hard, could have a rugby career.

Further proof, not that it's required, sees Clayton McMillan and Alex Gough playing professionally in Japan while Garrick Cowley has played for Manu Samoa.

Meanwhile, 36 players were selected to join the Super 14 wider training groups of the five New Zealand franchises.

The wider training group players train part-time with the Super 14 squads and provide cover in the case of injuries.

As expected Bay of Plenty Steamers prop James Afoa, who has transferred to North Harbour for 2007, has been named in the Blues back-up resources.

The NZRU and all franchises have all agreed the Hurricanes will have an extra player in their wider training group. Other franchises have yet to announce extra players.