Kingi scores U18 selection

Kingi Herewini is a name rugby fans would do well to remember.

At 16, the Rodney College student is punching well above his age on the rugby field.

Perhaps that’s why, to his friends, he’s known as King.

His recent selection into the Te Hiku o te Ika Maori Rugby U18 Team is the biggest score of his fledgling career.

One of only two players selected from Northland, Kingi will join the ranks of 27 other players selected from the entire Blues and Chiefs franchise areas.

This includes North Harbour, Auckland, Counties, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Thames Valley and King Country.

‘‘It’s pretty much all I do really - school and rugby,’’ Kingi said.

Playing rugby since he was 14, the Whangaripo Valley resident has tried his hand at ‘‘anything that’s not netball or soccer’’, playing touch, league, sevens, basketball and cricket for the school.

Kingi played his first match for the Te Hiku o te Ika Maori side in Hamilton last week, assisting his team to a 27-0 victory over the visiting All Star Rattlesnakes from Texas.

His short term goal is to be selected for the Blues U19 side at the end of this year, but would love to play with the All Blacks.

His biggest influences are Vodafone Warrior Shaun Johnson and All Black Rieko Ioane.