Manukau Courier: June 23 can’t come soon enough for Rosehill College rugby players Utumalama Atonio and Vulangi Olosoni. That’s the day Atonio, the girls’ 1st XV centre and Olosoni, the boys’ 1st XV No. 8, get to experience what each couldn’t conjure up in their wildest dreams: share a leadership breakfast with former All Blacks and later in the afternoon be at the All Blacks captain’s run at Eden Park. It will be the eve of the first All Black v British Lions test match, so each will also get…
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Amazing Grace thrives on juggling four sports
NZ Herald: There are allrounders, and then there is Grace Lui. The 16-year-old Year 12 Kelston Girls’ College athlete is the epitome of the busy school sports girl. In summer she is full-on with athletics – she is a natural thrower of the discus, shot put and javelin – and waka ama, where she is a key member of the champion Kelston under-19 crew which won the Sport Waitakere sports team of the year. In winter, Lui’s sport diet consists of netball and rugby, but she is often pitching in…
Read MoreRugby’s the first love but league snares rising star
NZ Herald: Jirah Momoisea is clearly a fast learner. The 18-year-old St Paul’s College deputy head boy only took up league this year to supplement his rugby as the First XV captain. So well did he take to the 13-man code that he has won himself a contract with NRL club Melbourne Storm after making the College Rugby League (CRL) team of the year as the top second-rower. “Being my final year, I just wanted to play everything, so it was touch, cricket, volleyball, AFL, rugby and league,” says Momoisea,…
Read MoreLose taking rugby by Storm
NZ Herald: Mangere College’s Lose Mafi is rapidly making a name in women’s rugby. Funny what can spring from chance meetings. Two years ago, Mangere College student Lose Mafi watched on at the school’s sports awards as Black Ferns captain Fiao’o Fa’amausili addressed all the promising young sports stars. Now the 17-year-old year 13 student is playing senior rep rugby for the Auckland Storm in the Farah Palmer Cup alongside Fa’amausili, one of the most durable and respected figures in the women’s game. The two are also clubmates at Marist.…
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