Rico Syme’s ‘unreal’ rise

Rico Syme is still trying to get his head around what can only be described as an ‘‘unreal’’ season.

He started the year playing for Christchurch Boys’ High School’s seventh XV, but is now a part of the Crusaders Academy and earlier this month was named in the New Zealand secondary schools squad.

‘‘It’s pretty unreal. When I was playing for the sevenths, I didn’t think I’d ever be in the situation that I’m in at the moment,’’ Syme said.

The 18-year-old and 48 other players from around the country will attend a three-day camp starting on Friday, with spots in the NZ Schools and NZ Barbarians Schools teams at stake.

It’s not just his selection in the Crusaders Academy and the schools squad which have got the fullback/first-five eighth’s head spinning.

Syme has also got Christchurch clubs queuing up for his services next year, something he couldn’t have imagined in his wildest dreams when he started his rugby comeback about six months ago.

He’s yet to decide which colours he will be running around in, or what he will study next year, but plans to make some tough decisions when his rugby commitments expire for the year.

Born and bred in Christchurch, Syme is now planning a future in rugby - the sport he quit three years ago.

‘‘I was a lot smaller than everyone,’’ he said. ’’In year nine I was playing No 10 and in year 10 I got pushed out to the wing. I didn’t really enjoy the wing, I was kind of getting smashed around and I lost lots of confidence.’’

Instead he focussed on cricket he was in the school’s first XI this year - and bringing his golf handicap down to 10.

But after three years away from the game, Syme joined a bunch of mates playing social rugby for the seventh XV.

However, after one game he decided he wanted to play serious rugby and trialled for the first XV and second XV, who he played nine games for before his eyeopening pace, footwork and allround skill resulted in first XV coach Danny Porte calling him up.

‘‘I started off playing fullback, then as it went through they started playing me at 10 at the end of games, and then started starting me at 10,’’ Syme said.

He helped CBHS win the UC Championship, before falling agonisingly short in the South Island final against Southland Boys’ High School.

But after eight games for the school’s famed first XV - some in the No 10 jersey former All Blacks legend Dan Carter once filled Syme had done enough to be one of just 10 South Island players named in the secondary schools squad.

The NZ Schools and NZ Barbarians Schools teams will be announced on Sunday to begin preparing for matches against school sides from Fiji, Tonga Australia, and the NZ Maori under-18s.