Roncalli's big challenge at curtain-raiser

JOHN BISSET/Timaru Herald

FIRED UP: Roncalli First XV is busy training for the biggest game of their season, which also happens to be their first, on February 26 at AMI Stadium.

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Roncalli College is looking to take a big step in its rugby development by challenging for a place in the Crusaders region secondary schools rugby competition.

The First XV are playing Rangiora High School for the vacant 14th spot in the competition, which stretches from Timaru to Nelson and includes the traditional powerhouses of South Island schools rugby.

The sudden-death game will be the curtain-raiser for the Crusaders versus Sharks Super 14 game on February 26.

The Peter Cockburn-coached side faces a tough task against Rangiora.

Should Roncalli be successful it will be the smallest school in terms of numbers of boys in the competition. Others have four times the number of players from which to choose.

At one stage, Christchurch Boys' High School had 13 rugby teams, while St Bede's College, champions for the past two seasons, have not been shy in getting recruits.

A spat broke out last year when Auckland's Sacred Heart College accused St Bede's of poaching a 17-year-old, 111kg Tongan prop renowned for his strength in the scrum.

To their credit, Roncalli are looking to improve and, perhaps in a few years, challenge Timaru Boys' High School's supremacy in the province.

Competition organisers have altered the rules to allow interested schools to challenge the lowest-placed team for entry regardless of their placing.

Previously, Roncalli would have had to challenge Timaru Boys' High School to gain entry.

Roncalli board chairman Peter Burt said the decision was not taken lightly and negotiations with competition organisers had gone on for 18 months.

"We are building depth and there are a lot of players coming through over the next few years, all from Celtic who are dominating the junior grades."

Burt said it was a big opportunity for Roncalli and the boys, especially with the curtain-raiser game.

"We will be a bit undercooked with so many boys playing other sports."

Roncalli had hoped both schools might have automatically qualified, with West Coast Schools pulling out and a bye already in the competition, but the organisers have granted Ashburton College a spot ahead of them.

Cockburn is, however, looking forward to the big game.

"It's our total focus at this stage and then we'll see what happens.

"We don't know much about Rangiora but they will present a tough challenge to our young side."

Cockburn said their strength was a returning front row and the loose forward trio led by captain Andrew Wilkes.

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