Further evidence of Bay of Plenty being one of the real nurseries of rugby in New Zealand, has been provided with the selection of the 2009 Chiefs Under 18 team.

Over the years a myriad of players who learnt the game in the Bay of Plenty, has made their mark in top-level rugby.
The latest example is 2009 Steamers captain Tanerau Latimer who has recently become the region's latest All Black.
The Chiefs Under 18 team comes from the cream of the secondary school players, from within the Chiefs franchise. The success of the youth player pathways, created a number of years ago by the BOPRU, is shown with the selection of 10 Bay players in the Under 18 side. In addition, Nick Ross from Mount Maunganui, is a boarder at Hamilton Boys High has been selected for the side.
An additional accolade has been the selection of Kaperiere (Papa) Wharewera as captain of the team. The talented half back from Rotorua Boys' High, was also selected for the New Zealand Under 17 team this season.
Two former Reporoa College students, who are now attending Tauranga Boys College, have also experienced playing for a National side. Carl Axtens was a member of the National Under 17 team in 2007 and 2008, and last season earned a place in the New Zealand Secondary School team. Open side flanker Sam Cane is a current New Zealand Under 17 selection after also being selected for the national team last year.
The fourth Chiefs Bay selection to have attained NZ Under 17 selection is current Tauranga Boys 1st XV captain Daniel Ross.
One youngster, who has experienced life in the fast lane at the NZRU National Sevens, is Reporoa College utility back Shaun Curry. The talented youngster, who has the ability to slot into several positions in a backline, was a member of the Bay Seven's team at this year's National tournament in Queenstown.

Chiefs Under 18 – BOP selections
Kaperiere (Papa) Wharewera – captain (Rotorua BHS) 2009 NZ U17 – half back and captain of Rotorua BHS.
Henry Kershaw (Rotorua BHS) 2008 BOP U18 – loose forward.
Andrew Tuise (Tauranga Boys College) 2008 BOP U18 – wing.
Carl Axtens (TBC) 2007/08 NZ U17, 2008 NZ Secondary Schools – loose forward originally from Reporoa.
Daniel Ross (TBC) 2008 NZ U17 – tight head prop and captain of Tauranga Boys
Fergus McCool (TBC) 2008 BOP U16 - lock
George Doig (TBC) 2008 BOP U18 – lock/loose forward.
Sam Cane (TBC) 2008/09 NZ U 17 – openside flanker originally from Reporoa.
Marnus Hanley (Whakatane HS) 2008 BOP U16 – center.
Shaun Curry (Reporoa College) 2009 BOP Sevens at National Tournament – utility back.

For more information contact:
Mike Rogers BOPRU Operations Manager
07 574 2037 ex 106 029 478 4292