Top performances last season have opened a pathway for Wanganui to find its own way into the national Condor Sevens Rugby Tournament for boys' secondary schools this season.
Wanganui Rugby Union community development officer Jordan Farrington said in previous years Wanganui schools have had to qualify against Taranaki schools, which has proved difficult.
In 2013 an experienced and full-strength Wanganui High School team threatened some of the top schools in New Plymouth and earned a spot in the Condor Sevens nationals.
They were a last-minute entry, but the WHS team showed they were not at the national secondary schools BNZ Condor Sevens to make up the numbers last season.
Granted a wild card to replace Southland Boys' High School after Condor tournament director Phil Gaze was impressed with WHS's runner-up performance at the Taranaki Secondary Schools Sevens, Wanganui finished with two wins and three losses at Kelston Boys High School grounds.