Rugby: Support act was a super chance

The school was invited to play the curtain-raiser ahead of the Blues-Rebels match in Melbourne. Photo / Getty Images

A novel experience for Auckland first XV defending champions St Kentigern College last week could become a trend after the school was invited to play the curtain-raiser ahead of the Blues-Rebels match in Melbourne on Thursday.

It is believed to be the first time a first XV has toured overseas as a Super Rugby supporting act. St Kentigern beat the Victoria under-18 state side 35-17.

The Pakuranga-based school had five weeks to organise the tour after receiving an invitation from Auckland Rugby.

They used their marketing manager - apparently some schools have them these days - to negotiate sponsorship agreements, while the parents jacked up a Trade Me auction to reduce costs.

The marketing manager organised agreements with Toshiba and Ricoh - school sponsors of laptops and photocopiers respectively - while the parents put up for sale items such as a signed 2008 All Blacks jersey (including a signature from old boy Jerome Kaino), sessions in the school gym with the first XV trainer Nic Slade, and an evening of rum racing on a 52-foot yacht in the Waitemata Harbour.

St Kentigern first XV coach and head of rugby Tai Lavea says the plan made sense at short notice.

The catch was that they had to pay their own fares. Some of the auctions are still to run but each boy contributed a certain amount to the trip.

"It was probably 60/40 in favour of sponsorship over each player's contribution," Lavea says. "I'd estimate each boy put in $250. We tried to make it as stressless as possible.

"The hard thing was five weeks ago, trying to decide who should tour. We have a squad of about 35 guys but had to pick 22. A few from outside that group have since come into the reckoning."

Lavea, a St Kentigern old boy who spent three of his post-secondary school years signed to rugby league's Melbourne Storm with twin brother Tasesa, says it enabled his team to get a gauge of professional rugby.

"I put the idea to our headmaster Steve Cole. We agreed we didn't want to pass up the opportunity. It's a hell of an experience for our lads because some of them will no doubt go into the likes of the ITM Cup one or two years out of school.

To make the trip, Lavea says St Kentigern had to postpone an annual fixture with Tauranga Boys' College until July. He found an ally in the Bay of Plenty.

"I rang [former New Zealand sevens representative and St Kentigern old boy] Chad Tuoro, who is running the rugby programme at Tauranga Boys. We were able to smooth it over. They understood what an awesome opportunity it was."