National team spot for versatile prop

HAYLEY GALE/Nelson Mail

READY FOR KICKOFF: Aiden Bettridge, of Collingwood Area School, has been selected for the New Zealand area schools national rugby team.

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Waikato Stadium is a long way from the Collingwood Recreation Ground, but it is soon to become a reality for Aiden Bettridge.

The Collingwood Area School year 13 student has been selected for the New Zealand area schools national rugby team, to take part in a training camp and matches in the Waikato area towards the end of September.

Aiden, 18, was selected after the Area Schools National Tournament in Christchurch during the last school holidays.

He played for the top of the south team, which beat the northern team and lost to the central and southern zone teams.

On the back of his performances he was selected for the South Island team to play a one-off match against the North Island.

The South Island lost the close encounter 15-10, but Aiden did enough to gain selection for the NZ team at loosehead prop.

The team flies to Hamilton on September 20 for a four-day training camp before playing a couple of matches, including one at Hamilton's test venue, Waikato Stadium, against a Harlequins side.

Aiden said it was a fantastic opportunity to get some good coaching.

While being thrown together with unfamiliar players can be challenge, Aiden said he didn't expect it to take long to get to know everyone.

"It's scary at first, but then once you're a couple of minutes into it you get used to it and then you feel like a team."

While selected as a prop, Aiden offers flexibility, as he also regularly plays at No8.

"I can play pretty much anywhere, really, just not hooker.

"I hate hooker.

"There's something about it, I just get lifted off the ground."

He plays for the Collingwood senior B team, and was hoping the camp would go a little better than the 2010 season.

"[It went] not that great.

"We did all right in the first round and turned to custard in the second round."

- © Fairfax NZ News