Stratton, Maraku make schools camp
Two Manawatu¯ players have been named in the New Zealand Schools Development Camp squad.
Feilding High School centre Josiah Maraku and Palmerston North Boys’ High School centre James Stratton were both included in the 49-player group named by the national schools selectors.
The squad will meet for a threeday camp in late September in a battle for places in the New Zealand Secondary Schools and New Zealand Barbarians Schools teams.
Maraku and Stratton both played starring roles for their respective schools this season.
Stratton has already signed with Manawatu for next year.
But there were a handful of unlucky players left on the outer, none more so than Feilding flanker Tyler Moeau.
Moeau was a key contributor to Feilding’s season, which included finishing runner’s up in the CNI and the national co-ed first XV tournaments.
Feilding props Ethan Mcquinlan and Jack Fleury were others who must have come close to selection.
Palmerston North Boys’ High School co-captain Tyler Laubscher, who is year 12, will be a front runner for the squad next year along with Feilding fullback fullback Drew Wild and lock James Bolton.
Nine players from the national champion Hastings Boys’ High School first XV were named in the 2017 squad including former Waiopehu College student Josiah
Tavita-metcalfe, who scored the match winner for Hastings in the national final.
New Zealand Schools coach Jason Holland said he was looking forward to getting the group together
‘‘The standard of schools’ rugby this season has been outstanding and we have strength and depth in most positions.’’
Players from 23 different schools were named in the squad.