Trio named in national team

Three Manawatu schoolboys have been named in the New Zealand Secondary Schools rugby team for two matches in October.

Palmerston North Boys’ High School captain and Brayden Iose and Feilding High School outside backs Vili Koroi and Mosese Dawai all made the cut.

Boys’ High flanker Matene Ruawai was also named in the New Zealand Barbarians team.

Iose, who has committed to staying in Manawatu once he finishes school at the end of the year, is one of two No 8s named in the team alongside Kings College’s Ajay Mua.

Iose is equally at home on the side of the scrum and is a handy lineout option.

He was Boys’ High’s best attacking player this season.

Feilding High School were rewarded for their national coed winning season with two players in the side.

Koroi was named in the team as a wing rather than in his preferred position at fullback.

Koroi’s acceleration, vision and deceptive strength make him one of the most devastating attacking weapons in first XV rugby.

He is also a goalkicking option and spent time at centre.

Koroi played for the Manawatu sevens team at nationals earlier this year.

Dawai, selected on the wing, is in his first year at the school after transferring from Tu Toa.

The Fijian has a nose for the tryline, but he has also impressed on defence.

Dawai trained with the Junior Tomasi Cama-coached Manawatu sevens team.

The New Zealand Secondary Schools team plays two matches in Auckland against Fiji Schools on October 3 and Australia Schools on October 8.

The Barbarians play the same teams on opposite dates.