The Silver Fern

@Mauss One of the NZ Schools locks has been ruled out through injury and Johnny Falloon from Rathkeale has been called in from Barbarians. He is a big 6' 7" fellow and has some heft about him - but can be absent at times in a match. Aerially he has a lot of work to do. Because of his size - Rathkeale struggled to lift him as they didn't have the units to do so for the entire match.

I'm surprised that George Prouting from NBHS was not named in any side. Best lock I have seen play in person this year. Great in the air. Massive ticker and works hard the entire game. Tocker definitely more of a 6 and tends to go missing at times. His pace however is incredible. He can really move.

@Canes4life He is a great kid as well. Top drawer fellow.
Definitely one for the Cane's to keep.

Match Details for Schools/Under 18 sides in 2025

Saturday 20th September (St Paul’s Collegiate, Hamilton)
NZ Schools vs NZ Barbarians U18 – 2pm

Saturday 20th September (St Paul’s Collegiate, Hamilton)
NZ Māori U18 v Chiefs Selection – 12pm

Thursday 25th September (St Paul’s Collegiate, Hamilton)
NZ Māori U18 v NZ Barbarians U18 – 2pm

Monday 29th September (Viking Rugby Club, Canberra)
NZ Schools vs Australia U18 – 4:05pm

Saturday 4th October (Viking Rugby Club, Canberra)
NZ Schools vs Australia U18 – 4:05pm

@Bovidae said in 2024 NZ Schools Rugby:

Jamie Viljoen is now in the NZ Barbarians U18s so one of the original 1st 5s must have been replaced.

Peni Havea from FAHS has moved up into the NZ Schools side to fill the last place that they held open.

Viljoen also plays at Fullback a fair bit.

@Canes4life Good to see Cole behind a pack providing front foot ball. He was an outstanding player at Rathkeale playing at 10 and surviving on scraps and often going backwards.
He would have been enjoying that ball from Tamati.

@Bovidae The 2 oldest Balenaisa brothers.
There are another 2 coming through the ranks!!

@Nepia The people running the FAHS programme are local people. 3 are members of the school staff and 4 are parents/members of the public.

Every single lad in the side was under 18 at the start of January as per NZ SS rules.
The core of that side have been in the side two years. The Captain started playing when he was in year 10

As it was Massey/Palmy turned on a glorious day as it often does these days - and the fact is that the Hastings side was unfit. They were gassed by halftime. Never seen so much walking.

Careful with stones in glasshouse.

@WoodysRFC At the game. Had a good view of it. It happened so fast in real time it looked like a try in person.
Video replays obviously say no. No TMO for them.

Reckon most refs would give it 8 out of ten times.