MEDIA RELEASE
19 December 2018

New Zealand Secondary School representatives Josh Lord and Lukas Halls are two notable players who have been named in the G&H Training Bulls Academy for 2019.

Lord, who is two meters plus, attended Hamilton Boys High School this year and played a key role in their 1^st XV as well as pulling on the silver fern for the New Zealand Secondary Schools team in 2018. Halls, originally born in Taranaki, will come home after playing in the midfield for Kings College in Auckland’s 1A schools competition and represented the New Zealand Secondary School Barbarians.

Other key recruits include Blues U18 representatives Crusader Faletagoai (tight head prop) and Josh Jacomb (first five-eighth) from Sacred Heart along with Millennium Sanerivi (hooker) from Kings College.

Locally, New Plymouth Boys High School halfback Kristian Standen and midfielder Daniel Rona, have been selected after standing out for the high school this year. Rona was selected in the CMK Taranaki sevens team and played a key role at the TECT Nationals on the weekend.  

G&H Training Bulls Academy Manager David Ormrod is happy with next year’s intake which will benefit to several areas of Taranaki Rugby.

“The Academy’s aim is to produce players for the Yarrows Taranaki Bulls, but while in the Academy, the players will take part in CMK club rugby and the Under 19 and AICA Development representative programmes”.

Ormrod said during the year, all G&H Training Bulls Academy players will undergo sessions based on the six key pillars of rugby development – technical, tactical, physical, nutrition, psychological and professional development, delivered by Taranaki Rugby and local resources.

Ormrod said the professional development aspect is an important area for players to ensure they are thinking about life outside and after rugby.

“We have resources to assist players with their off-field lives by holding sessions and workshops on budgeting, career paths, public speaking, just to name a few. It’s crucial to have a balance in life”, he said. 

Additionally, the Academy’s also aims to make players better people which is part of the wholistic philosophy of the programme.  

The year two players include CMK Under 19 Player of the Year Tevita Fa’ukafa and New Zealand U20 wider squad members Michael Loft, Kaylum Boshier and Tupou Vaa’i. 

67% of the 2018 Yarrows Taranaki Bulls were Academy graduates.

The new Bulls Academy will assemble in the New Year.

2019 G&H Training Bulls Academy:

Josh Lord, Hamilton BHS, Lock
Daniel Rona, New Plymouth BHS, Midfield
Kristian Gent-Standen, New Plymouth BHS, Halfback
Lukas Halls, King College, Midfield
Crusader Faletagoai, Sacred Heart, THP
Millennium Sanerivi, Kings College, Hooker
Jahmarl Hapi, New Plymouth BHS, Wing
Nathanial Peters, FDMC, Flanker
Jordan Roylance, FDMC, Flanker
Adam Smith, New Plymouth BHS First Five
Josh Jacomb, Sacred Heart College, First Five
Christian Fa’avae, Flanker, Sacred Heart College
Reece Gray, New Plymouth BHS, Flanker
Moses Christie, Gisborne BHS, Flanker

2019 Year 2 Players:
Tevita Fa’ukafa, Coastal, No8
Tupou Vaa’i, New Plymouth OB, Lock
Kaylum Boshier, New Plymouth OB, Lock
Kini Naholo, Clifton, Wing
Isaac Kneepkens, Tukapa, Fullback
Josh Setu, Clifton, Midfield
Michael Loft, New Plymouth OB, Flanker
Jahmarl Weir, New Plymouth OB, Wing
Josh Thompson, Coastal, Midfield
Toby Burkett, New Plymouth OB, THP
Brent Tucker, New Plymouth OB, Lock

Notable Academy Graduates:
Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi (Chiefs and All Blacks)
Sean Wainui (Chiefs)
Lachlan Boshier (Chiefs)
Reuben O’Neill (Chiefs and All Blacks wider training group)
Tom Florence (Taranaki)
Stephen Perofeta (Blues)
Mansa Mataele (Crusaders)
Pita-Gus Sowakula (Chiefs)
Mitch Brown (Chiefs)

-ENDS-
 

For more information, please contact;
David Ormrod
TRFU Bulls Academy Manager
020 4024 3754
David.ormrod@trfu.co.nz

Article added: Wednesday 19 December 2018