It was a special rugby union occasion, a New Zealand representative team in a hard-out, skills and game-situation training session with a top-of-the-class east Auckland First XV. In the steady rain and mild temperatures of Tuesday afternoon, the New Zealand Under-85kg squad trained with the Botany Downs Secondary College First XV and everyone was learning fast as the water splashed the faces. What was refreshing about the unique rugby experience was that in this high-profile professional era, all the players were amateur – very good at what they do and how they play the sport – in true rugby spirit – for the love of the game – and the session was thorough, fast-moving, skills- and moves-based with everyone involved, and the level of execution high. It had a festival rugby look of the past – players in their clubs’ coloured uniforms, but this was a serious training session and trial, as the NZ Under-85s are on their way to Sri Lanka. Selection spots for the starting squad that’ll take on the Indian Ocean country’s national side in two tests are in the picking. As the touring side’s manager Grant Wilson said with a laugh – what we’re all thinking: “Who knows what’s going to happen?” – in Sri Lanka, where it’ll be 30-plus degrees Celsius. The training came at just the right time for boosting confidence, knowledge and playing standards for Botany Downs Secondary College’s First XV as they sharpen up heading into another tough season in Auckland’s premier secondary schools’ rugby comp, the 1A Grade, away against Auckland Grammar this Saturday. After Tuesday’s session, BDSC co-captain and first five-eighths Ben Blundell said it was a “privilege” to run out against the NZ U85s. “We’re grateful for the opportunity, and we’ll take the learnings of today such as the awareness to see space into the season ahead.” BDSC, who ended up in 1A relegation territory at the end of last season, had a grading promotion-relegation match last Saturday against Tangaroa College, the top 1B side in 2024, winning 7-0. The First XV’s manager of eight years, BDSC sports coordinator Vanessa Walter, told the Times on the damp sideline the team is elated with last weekend’s victory, but are under no illusions – this 2025 1A Grade season is going to be challenging and exciting. “This is a great opportunity for our guys to do drills and play against a national team.” She said the First XV is strong and united behind long-time head-coach Logan Fui, who sets with the players and management “the culture and our values, and to respect the opposition at all times”. The 28-man NZ U85s squad was chosen after the very successful National Club Cup competition and final last September, when the Pakuranga Black Panthers famously defeated Christchurch/Canterbury’s High School Old Boys’ Light Bears 23-22 in a nail-biter at Wellington’s Sky Stadium, televised live as the curtainraiser to an All Blacks test match against Australia. In that winning team was Francis Morrison, one of five Pakuranga players selected for the national side and to wear the black jersey with silver fern for the first time, with the others being veteran Ben Biggelaar, who has played close to 120 games for the club’s U85s, Rory Cavanagh, Jeandre Du Toit, and Jamie Petford. Morrison, who plays fullback and centre, has just had an amazing week, after debuting and starring for the NZ Touch team last weekend in a Trans-Tasman series against Australia. In less than two weeks, he’s about to play for New Zealand for a second time and in another code. He, like all the guys who have come from clubs across New Zealand, was pumped up and excited after the training at BDSC and told the Times the last few days have been positively “surreal”. “I’d never have thought in a million years I’d be flying to Sri Lanka to play rugby for New Zealand,” Morrison said. As the rain continued to fall and players headed for food and drinks, dry tracksuits and vehicles, the Times managed to catch up with Simon Sia, at 39, the oldest player in the tour party. He’s had 12 seasons at tighthead prop in the Morrinsville Sports Majestic Pukekos U85 club side and it’s the second time he’s been chosen for a NZ U85 rep side, the first time being in 2012. At that time and in recent years, a national under-85kg side has been named but not assembled. Now it’s changed. “It’s been a journey,” said Sia. “I thought I was finished. This is my pinnacle. It’s crazy. “We’ve got a great bunch of players, all community players. I never dreamed I’d have a chance to do this.” NZ coach Ngatai Walker, with a sound track record through roles with Manawatu, Hurricanes Poua, Taranaki Development, and NZ Secondary Schools, is a clear communicating, enthusiastic and moves-focused mentor. He led the BDSC session working on technique, set-pieces, game situation scenarios, drills and moves, all with learning and teamwork in mind. Before heading off, Walker told the Times the creation of the New Zealand Under-85kg side is “great” for community rugby, NZ Rugby’s “community engagement”, and for the players who all get the chance to play for their country. Sri Lanka – rugby? Yes, there is a legacy from the British colonial days, and it has been played in the traditional English-language private schools and in communities since the late 1800s. They have the second-most players in World Rugby’s Asia zone behind Japan, and Walker says they have a little knowledge of the Sri Lankan national side, as The Tuskers are playing in the Asia Cup for a qualification spot for the next Rugby World Cup, which will have more nations competing at the finals. The upcoming matches are not the first rugby internationals between teams from New Zealand and Sri Lanka. When it was known as Ceylon, Sri Lanka’s first appearance as a national rugby team was against a New Zealand side, the 1907-08 rugby league Kiwis who were also touring Australia and Great Britain. Playing rugby union rules, New Zealand won 33-6 on September 12, 1907. And a famous New Zealand Colts (under-21s) squad toured Ceylon in 1955, which included players who went on to become All Blacks legends, the late-great Sir Colin “Pinetree” Meads and Sir Wilson Whineray respectively. New Zealand Under-85kg rugby team to tour Sri Lanka (club, province): Forwards: Pasia Asiata (Poneke Wanderers, Wellington), Ben Biggelaar (Pakuranga Black Panthers, Auckland), Rory Cavanagh (Pakuranga Black Panthers, Auckland), Lewis Craik (Morrinsville Majestic Pukekos, Waikato), Jeandre Du Toit (Pakuranga Black Panthers, Auckland), Luke Eyre (Massey Rock n Rumble, North Harbour), Josh Gellert (Auckland University Slug Collectors, Auckland), Frazer Harrison (Auckland University Squids, Auckland), Tyler Koning (High School Old Boys Light Bears, Canterbury), Jack Laity (Auckland University Slug Collectors, Auckland), Callum Nimmo (High School Old Boys Light Bears, Canterbury), Ridgley Paxton (Karaka Razzlers, Counties Manukau), Josh Purdon (High School Old Boys Light Bears, Canterbury), Tom Rowland (Eden Lizards, Auckland), Simon Sia (Morrinsville Majestic Pukekos, Waikato), Matt Treeby (Tawa Ducks, Wellington). Backs: Campbell Busby (Auckland University Squids, Auckland), Taine Cordell Hull (High School Old Boys Light Bears, Canterbury), Jackson Ephraims (Takapuna Bombers, North Harbour), Ben Megson (Grammar TEC Old Boys, Auckland), Ned Milne (High School Old Boys Light Bears, Canterbury), Francis Morrison (Pakuranga Black Panthers, Auckland), Jarred Percival (High School Old Boys Light Bears, Canterbury), Jamie Petford (Pakuranga Black Panthers, Auckland), Adam Preston (Tawa Ducks, Wellington), Eamon Reilly (Ponsonby Hustlers, Auckland), Ben Scott (High School Old Boys Light Bears, Canterbury), Pieter Swarts (East Coast Bays Badgers, North Harbour). Coach: Ngatai Walker. Manager: Grant Wilson. For earlier Times’ stories about the Pakuranga Black Panthers’ victory in NZ Rugby’s 2024 National Club Cup, read: https://www.times.co.nz/news/panthers-five-to-wear-national-black-jersey/ https://www.times.co.nz/news/winning-team-culture-delivers-coveted-rugby-cup/ https://www.times.co.nz/news/pakuranga-national-under-85kg-mens-rugby-champions