You could call Jacob Kneepkens triple-talented – and he has a big decision to make some time soon about whether to be a rugby, league or sevens star.
Speaking of sevens, a "speechless" Kneepkens, 17, was overjoyed at his selection as one of six players to claim a place at the 2019 All Blacks Sevens and Black Ferns Sevens national development camps next year.
He and the five others were among 48 male and 48 female athletes scouted by New Zealand Rugby (NZR) in a quest to uncover the next All Blacks Sevens and Black Ferns Sevens superstars. They took part in the four-day Red Bull Ignite7 talent search where they underwent intensive testing to measure skill and athletic ability before taking part in a televised one-day tournament.
Focused on uncovering and developing the next generation of sevens rugby stars, Red Bull Ignite7 is led by NZR and brought to life by the likes of key sponsors Red Bull and The Warehouse.
Sarah Slawson, spokesperson for key sponsor The Warehouse said Ignite 7 proved its worth in terms of giving everyday New Zealanders a chance to realise a dream: "We are all about reaching into the community and giving Kiwis of all ages an opportunity. Our goal is to enhance the lives of families and young people throughout New Zealand by developing partnerships with community organisations at a national, regional and neighbourhood level – and Ignite 7 is part of that."
Thanks to Ignite 7, now Kneepkens has a choice to make.
The New Plymouth 17-year-old is already a year into a three-year contract with the NRL's Parramatta Eels; he previously flew to Australia after being scouted by the Eels, attended some training camps and then signed the contract.
Last year, playing at fullback, he represented Fiji at the Pasifika Youth Cup in Auckland, was part of an under-16 Warriors invitational team to play against an Auckland XIII and his contract with the Eels included the ability to play in an under-18 competition in Australia.
Still at Francis Douglas College, where his next year will be his third in the school's First XV, Kneepkens is contemplating another year at school before hopefully going to university where he wants to study media.
"I guess I do have some pretty big decisions to make," he laughs.
A first-five eighths for the First XV, Kneepkens says: "I haven't played a lot of league lately as there isn't a real competition here [New Plymouth] – and I guess I am kind of leaning towards rugby."
He was one of about 50 players who attended the and played for the New Zealand Schools camp in September and now, with an invitation to the national sevens training camps, the prospect of a sevens career is also on the table.
Another of the six selected from Red Bull Ignite7, Kalyn Takitimu-Cook, chose to play sevens for the first time only at the beginning of last year – and emerged with a gold medal as part of the winning New Zealand under-18s sevens team at the 2018 Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires just last month.
"I was shocked," said Takitimu-Cook about the Olympic success. "That gold medal is so big and so heavy; I didn't realise how big it was – and it's great feeling."
A first-five or halfback in sevens, Takitimu-Cook is still at school at Palmerston North's Manukura but has already started putting together an impressive national sporting portfolio.
She first represented New Zealand in an under-18 mixed touch team, played in a New Zealand Schools Sevens team which won the World Sevens tournament in Auckland last year – and is now delighted to be able to attend the Black Ferns Sevens training camps next year.
"We beat Australia in the final," she said. "There was only 20 seconds left and it could have gone either way – but we won it; it was just the most nervous exciting feeling."
Now, with a bare minimum of sevens experience, she will be attending the Black Ferns sevens camp next year: "It's pretty daunting, really. I'm in with the big dogs now."
Others to be selected from Red Bull ignite7 were Isla Norman-Bell (also from a touch background) and Mererangi Paul (a Northern Mystics netballer who first played sevens only a matter of weeks ago). William Warbrick (who has a rugby, AFL and league background) and Chay Fihaki (Sacred Heart College) will accompany Kneepkens to the All Blacks Sevens camps.
New Zealand Sevens High Performance Manager Tony Philp said the players chosen epitomised the Red Bull Ignite7 concept: "These athletes come from varying backgrounds and have varying levels of rugby experience, but all of them stepped up to the mark to force the selectors hands over the past four days.
"This week has delivered what we had hoped for and far more. Not only have we been able to identify six very talented athletes to attend our 2019 development camps, but we have also unearthed new talent and learned a lot about a large number of other players who were already on our radar."
Sarah Slawson notes, "The Warehouse is proud to work with NZR in their quest to uncover talented young people like Jacob, Kalyn, Mererangi, William, Isla and Chay. We wholeheartedly champion New Zealand talent, so we have been really excited to see Ignite 7 come to life and watching first-hand, the calibre of talent coming through."