Young talent on trial for scholarships

Two or threE new scholarships are on offer for young rugby talent this week to attend Rangiora College near Christchurch this year.

Today Trevor Jones and his son Kori from Rangiora College will be on the island to scout for players to join the college for a one-year scholarship.

Cook Islands Rugby Union chief executive officer Ben Koteka says this is an exciting opportunity for local rugby playing schoolboys.

He says the vision is to develop rugby pathways right here at home so that Cook Islands families dont have to move overseas in search of better opportunities for their talented teens.

Six local boys have been training regularly for the past six weeks ahead of this weeks scouting mission by Rangiora College.

This years scholarships for Cook Islanders are the first for Rangiora College who traditionally scout players in Samoa.

The facts that Cook Islanders hold New Zealand passports and are physically built for sports have appealed to the Christchurch college.

Already three local boys have secured scholarships for 2012.

Turoa Kamana will be attending Sacred Heart College for the second year and will be joined by fellow Tupapa club member Othniel Joseph.

Jemaine Pureau will complete his second year at Whanganui Boys Collegiate.

Between today and when the selection for the Rangiora College scholarship is made on Thursday Rangi Mato (16) and Daniel Mato (17) of the Ngatangiia club, Robert Heather Junior (17), Andrew Purua (17) and Jag Love (16) all of the Cowboys club plus Davey Mato (16) of the Tupapa club will be displaying the best of their character and rugby skills for the two and possibly three scholarships on offer.

A series of friendly matches are being planned for this week at the BCI Stadium so the scouts can see the players potential.