Five go to Capetown

Months of intense training and fundraising has paid off for five Far North teenagers, who fly out of New Zealand on Good Friday to take part in a major international rugby tournament in South Africa. Twins Oliver and Jamie Hilton Jones, along with Jack Doyle, Puru Aboagye and Memphis Ngaruhe — all present or former Kaitaia College students — have been invited to play for the Barbarians Invitation side in a new high-profile international under-18 tournament in Capetown next week. The event will feature the top 10 teams in South Africa and a further 10 teams from around the world and will be televised to a huge worldwide audience. Springbok great Victor Matfield will be one of their coaches. All teams will play twice during the tournament with the Barbarians playing next Wednesday and the following Saturday. Other New Zealand teams at the event are the Napier and Christchurch boys high schools. More on the quintet’s selection is forthcoming. They are also expected to feature in a segment on 1 News on Saturday night.