It’s not every day that people are given the chance to play sports on the other side of the world.
However, five young people from the Hauraki Plains and Thames Valley areas have landed an opportunity on the world stage.
Hunter Growden, Chris Lourens, Rohan Landy, Nikora Tawa and Ethan Watts have been selected to play in an invitational under-18 New Zealand rugby team at the World Schools Festival in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, in December.
Seventeen-year-old Thames High School deputy head boy Hunter Growden told The Profile he was super excited when he found out the news. “I was around the boys and stuff, so they were all super happy for me.”
Hunter said he’d played rugby his whole life and had looked forward to playing at the festival for a few years. It was his friends and family who helped keep him motivated, he said. “They help me get to the gym and they help me with all my dietary requirements and stuff all the time. I really just enjoy playing for them and with them.”
When asked if there would be more opportunities to come from this, Hunter said: “100 per cent”.
“Hopefully, I’ll just be able to pick them up and be able to bring my A game to this.”
“As long as I can just put my best foot forward and kind of continue to represent and just stay humble over there – I think it will be the best way for me to go.”
Over in the Hauraki Plains, 17-year-old student Chris Lourens said the thing he was most looking forward to was playing with experienced team members and getting the knowledge and experience of high-level coaches.
The rugby team won’t train together until they were on the other side of the world. “So, we meet in Abu Dhabi three days before, and we train for those three days,” Chris said.
One challenge that could come up between now and the competition is: “there’s still a lot of [local] rugby to be played, so there’s always injuries that could pop up on the way”, Chris said. “But hopefully we don’t come across any of those.” His advice for students interested in applying for the next World School Festivals was: “you gotta own it”. “You’ve got to give it your 100 per cent every time you take [to] that field – you never know who’s watching.”
Meanwhile, fellow schoolmate 17-year-old Rohan Landy said his best advice was: “if you ever think of doing something big – chase your dreams, set your goals and work out what you need to work on”.
“If it’s personal skills or leadership – “just do your best and enjoy yourself”, he said.
One thing that helped Rohan stay motivated was having his mum and grandma “who always go to every game, and haven’t missed out on one”, he said.
Rohan was looking forward to meeting other passionate rugby players, he said.
Seventeen-year-old Hauraki Plains student head leader Nikora Tawa said he had friends who made it into the team in 2022 which “motivated me to sign up”.
Nikora said he was looking forward to his chance to play under professional coaches and with other international teammates.
His family, friends and teachers inspired him to give his best, Nikora said.
“Just knowing I have people that back me gives me motivation.”
Nikora said: “the culture of the team I play for makes me want to be able to bring us home a trophy”.
Meanwhile, former Hauraki Plains College student 17-year-old Ethan Watts said it would be his second time participating in the event as he also played at the 2023 festival in Thailand.
“Last year it was quite nerve-wracking, but I just feel way more comfortable and more excited knowing I’ve been there [and] done it before.”
“I really want to go over there and just do my best,” Ethan said.
Ethan said there were a few people he knew heading back this year: “which will be quite good because you connect with them straight away”.
“As soon as you’re over there, you’re mates.”
When asked if there was someone who inspired him, Ethan said: “it’s mainly just my family, you know, [they] just do so much for me… I just want to make them proud”.
The players are raising funds for the trip through raffles and givealittle.co.nz.
