Schoolboy sensation may stick with rugby
Interest from Chiefs and Sevens powerbrokers is causing a rethink
Auckland schoolboy sensation Etene Nanai may not be league and Warriors- bound after all.
On Wednesday, it was revealed the Warriors had the 17- year- old Saint Kentigern College outside back contracted until the end of 2019.
But although he trained with the Warriors in the off- season, the Weekend Herald understands that his heart is with rugby and that strong interest shown from the Chiefs and New Zealand sevens powerbrokers is causing a rethink on his future.
Further muddying the waters for the Warriors i s that any contract signed by a minor ( anybody under the age of 18), as per the Minors’ Contract Act, is legally unenforceable.
This means if Nanai chose to remain in rugby after his first XV season i s over, there i s little the Warriors can do.
Nanai turns 18 in August, just when the elite Auckland schools competition is drawing to a close. He has provided a cutting edge to the Saint Kentigern College backline since his 2014 first XV debut but he came to wider prominence with a YouTube compilation of his individual highlights went viral this week, featuring him in pre- season action with his school side.
The Auckland schools competition kicks off today, but Nanai will not be in action as Saint Kentigern’s clash with Mt Albert Grammar School has been deferred until July 8 due to MAGS still being in Japan competing in the Sanix tournament, the unofficial schools world championships.
Nanai is not the first first XV player to be in the Warriors’ juniors ranks. Last season, Auckland Grammar halfback Melino Fineanganofo played for the Warriors under- 20s along with his First XV duties.
MAGS flanker cum second- five Isaiah Papali’i was a schoolboy standout last season and has already featured in NRL first grade with the Warriors in 2017.
Nanai will play for his first XV only until their commitments are done for 2017.
Hamilton- based Super Rugby franchise the Chiefs have already shown an interest in Nanai and invited him to their under- 18 camp last July.
Earlier this week, Chiefs coach Dave Rennie acknowledged he was well aware of Nanai, pointing out he is a cousin of skilful midfield back Tim Nanai- Williams.
The New Zealand Sevens are also keen to see how Nanai develops.
He could follow in the footsteps of Vilimoni Koroi, who went from playing for Feilding HS at the Condor Sevens to the New Zealand ranks in a matter of weeks late last year.
Warriors development manager Tony Iro told the Weekend Herald Nanai hadn’t yet expressed a desire to keep playing rugby.
“All I know is he’s contracted with us. He hasn’t expressed to us personally that he wants to play union so that’s where it is at the moment,” Iro said yesterday.