Academy Manger David Hall is pleased to announce the 2018 Rugby Academy.  We have 9 players returning for there second year. These players should all have their sights on playing Mitre 10 cup with in two years time. The highlights have been Flynn Thomas and Jay Renton both playing Mitre 10 Cup in their first year and also making the first cut of the New Zealand under 20 programmes we are also very pleased with all other academy member’s who have made great progress though out the year and will continue to push each other hard in 2018.

New players to the academy this year will see Mitch Taylor return from studying in Christchurch.  Mitch was outstanding at the under 19 tournament for Southland.  We are pleased to have retained Kaleb Talahamina who played for the New Zealand Barbarians this year and has a great skill set.  Josh Mason and Kaleni Elder are both exciting midfielders with great promise and Henry Earland is a fullback with a great skill set and nice footwork.

Ben Paulin is a tall athletic player with a great work rate. Jack Nally is a tough player that works very hard and is good in the lineout. Curtis Williams is a hard working loose forward that reads a game well. Taine Te Whata is a rugged open side that attended Otago Boys High and played for the New Zealand Barbarians but we have been able to entice him back to Southland where he was raised.  Rikki Rangi Kawe Gage is a prop who had horrible leg break and ankle dislocation at the start of this year but remarkably returned to play later in the year. He is a good prop who offers a bit extra round the field. Kaydis Hona moved to Invercargill this year and now has joined the academy. He only plays the game at one speed and that is, full speed.

New to academy

Jack Nally

Ben Paulin

Henry Earland

Kaleb Talahamina

Kaydis Hona

Mitch Taylor

Rikki Rangi Kawe Gage

Taine Te Whata

Josh Mason

Curtis Williams

Kaleni Elder

Year two

Ethan De Groot

Sy Waiti

Jaya More

Flynn Thomas

Viliami Pasilio Tosi

Jay Renton

Toko Sopoaga

Sione Alatini Vaihu

Regan Wlson