Sevens contract starts after school exams completed
Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens has a media studies exam to sit and then he is off to
Mt Maunganui to begin his professional rugby career with the All Blacks Sevens squad.
Wednesday was the 18-yearold’s last day at Francis Douglas Memorial College, before he packs up to join the All Blacks Sevens squad.
‘‘I will find a flat, settle in and get used to being away from home.
‘‘I will be flatting with some of the boys in the team. It will be pretty cool.’’
The World Series starts in December, kicking off in Dubai and South Africa, but that might be too soon for Rat um a it avukiKneep kens, who is still nursing a finger injury suffered while playing second five-eighth for the New Zealand Secondary Schools’ team against Fiji a few weeks ago.
He is aiming for the third World Series game, which will be in Hamilton. ‘‘I will give it a good crack. I hope my pinky will be all right by then.
‘‘Get the family along, some of my mates around – that would be awesome.’’ Then the series continues in Sydney, Hong Kong, Singapore, America, Canada, London and Paris.
Also on the list are the
Olympics in Japan next year, he said. ‘‘I 100 per cent want to put my best foot forward, train the house down. If it happens, I will be stoked but if it doesn’t, then next time. It is not like it is the end of the road.’’
Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, who started playing at the Tukapa Rugby Club in New Plymouth as a 4-year-old, has also signed with Taranaki Rugby.
And he has been in talks with the Chiefs.
‘‘Looking back at guys who put sevens first in their rugby career, like Rieko Ioane, Akira Ioane, Caleb Clarke ... being in that professional environment will be good for development leading into Super Rugby, Mitre 10.’’