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Hawke's Bay teenager Zac Guildford was still pinching himself today as he fronted media in Wellington to talk about his Super 14 rugby signing with the Hurricanes.
It's been a fast rise through the ranks for the 18-year-old, who in the space of a year has gone from being in the Napier Boys' High School first 15 to representing Hawke's Bay, then being selected for the Hurricanes.
Guildford said while a Super 14 contract was an obvious goal after getting a start at provincial level, he thought realistically it would be a three- or four-year one.
"Last year I was at school and never expected to be in the Hurricanes at 18," he said.
"It hasn't really sunk in but I guess it will once we start training."
Guildford was one of six players from the Magpies named today in various Super 14 teams, with another two - flanker Michael Johnson and hooker Hika Elliot - joining him at the Hurricanes.
Hawke's Bay went into this season's Air New Zealand Cup unfancied and ended up making the semifinals, beating Waikato twice and Wellington once in the process.
Both Guildford and Hurricanes coach Colin Cooper said Hawke's Bay's form had a big impact on Super 14 selections.
"It wasn't just a fluke, it was done through hard work and good coaching." Cooper said today.
He admitted Guildford was getting an early introduction to the big league but said the Hurricanes had enough depth to be able to properly blood him and a handful of other rookies.
While Taranaki's Willie Ripia, Scott Waldrom and Craig Clarke join Hurricanes incumbents Jason Eaton and Andrew Hore, players from the region's other main rugby province, Manawatu, were overlooked.
Cooper said while the situation would be disappointing for Manawatu, the team didn't have a strong season and selectors made no apology for their decisions.
At the other end of the spectrum he was talking up the future of his young new signings and said there was no reason they couldn't make the ultimate step up.
"I don't just want these young men to be Hurricanes, I want them to be All Blacks," he said.
Meanwhile, Guildford was looking forward to pre-season training starting in a few weeks to adjust to his new environment and get comfortable with players he has looked up to over the past few years.
"I played centre in sixth form, which was only two years ago, and Conrad (Smith) was the sort of player I looked up to. Just being able to play with those sorts of players is going to be huge, I'm looking forward to it."
- NZPA
