Four Wellington players in NZ Schools team the most in a decade

Above: 2026 Wellington colleges NZ Schools players (L-R) Laifone Kamoto, Fletcher Cooper, Donncha McNamara-Taele, Julius Toimata. Photos: Andy McArthur.

After not having a player take the field in the main New Zealand Secondary Schools team for each of the past three years, four players from Wellington schools have been named in the NZ Schools side today to play in an expanded series involving Australia Schools and the U18 teams of Australia Fiji, Tonga and Samoa in Hamilton for two weeks starting next Tuesday.

The four New Zealand Schools Squad players are:

• Donncha McNamara-Taele, St Patrick’s College, Wellington
• Fletcher Cooper, St Patrick’s College Silverstream
• Julius Toimata, Wellington College
• Laifone Kamoto, Wellington College

McNamara-Taele is a specialist tighthead prop and Toimata is a loosehead prop, while Kamoto is a blindside flanker and lineout specialist and Fletcher Cooper (year 12) is a first-five and recently took his team to the Top 4 tournament.

The last College Sport Wellington First XV Premiership player to be capped for the NZ Schools team was Stanley Solomon in 2022. Prior to that is was All Black Siale Lauaki in 2021.

Prior to this, Wellington school rugby supporters will need to go back to 2015 to the last time more than two players were selected. That year there were a record eight players: Asafo Aumua and Losi Filipo (St Pat’s Silverstream), Alex Fidow and Thomas and Peter Umaga-Jensen (Scots College), Ben Power (HIBS), Kemara Hauiti-Parapara (Wellington College) and Xavier Numia (St Pat’s Town).

The year before that in 2014 there were also four like this year, a year that the Wellington Lions finished dead last in the then NPC Premiership and were relegated. There were six in 2009 and five in 2010.

In addition to these four players, a further four have been selected in the two other teams named today, making eight in total.

New Zealand Barbarian Under 18

• Harry Baddington, Wellington College
• Kitiona Talaepa, Petone Rugby Football Club
• Axel Daken, Petone Rugby Football Club

Baddington is Wellington College’s tighthead prop, while Talaepa is a USA U20s player and plays lock for Petone and Daken is a halfback one year out of St Pat’s Silverstream.

Their Petone teammate and wing William Davis-Lenz would also have been selected for this team but is in now in the Wellington Lions NPC squad instead. Similarly first year OBU lock Eddie Weatherstone might also have been chosen but he has been injured almost all year and is just returning to full fitness now.

New Zealand Māori Under 18 Ngā Whatukura

• Ryder Thompson, St Patrick’s College Silverstream

Thompson is St Pat’s Silverstream’s captain and flanker.

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The three New Zealand squads selected for the 2026 National U18 Pathway Programme are:

New Zealand Schools squad; Name, School

Carlos Nordstrom, Hamilton Boys’ High School
Carter Pirie, Napier Boys’ High School
Cruz Kea Cameron, Saint Kentigern College
Donncha McNamara-Taele, St Patrick’s College, Wellington
Finn Hurley, Southland Boys’ High School
Fletcher Cooper, St Patrick’s College Silverstream
Jack Brock, Southland Boys’ High School
Jay-Morris Rawiri, St John’s College, Hamilton
Julius Toimata, Wellington College
Kelekolio Makasini, Otago Boys’ High School
Kobe Narruhn, Mount Albert Grammar School
Laifone Kamoto, Wellington College
Lennox Kopelani, St Andrew’s College
Liam Newfield, Christchurch Boys’ High School
Lucas Goodman, Feilding High School
Luchian Opperman, Rosmini College
Matthew Fleming, Westlake Boys’ High School
Max Hammond, Gisborne Boys’ High School
Nico Stanley, Auckland Grammar School
Nikora Mata’afa, St Thomas of Canterbury College
Sione Kaufononga, Hastings Boys’ High School
Solomone Halaufia, Hastings Boys’ High School
Te Ariki Rogers, Rotorua Boys’ High School
Tevita Fakava, Feilding High School
Will Lovatt, Napier Boys’ High School
Zy Woodham, Timaru Boys’ High School

Coaching team

• Head Coach: Kane Jury, New Zealand Rugby National Pathways Head Coach
• Assistant Coach: Scott Manson, Otago Boys’ High School
• Assistant Coach: Tui Raeli, Marlborough Boys’ College

New Zealand Barbarian Under 18; Name, School

Alapati Soagia, Hautapu Sports Club
Axel Daken, Petone Rugby Football Club
Caleb Collins-Polata, St Andrew’s College, Christchurch
Chanel Filiva’a, Clifton Rugby Football Club
Deon Fifita, Hamilton Boys’ High School
Eric Miller, Palmerston North Boys’ High School
Harry Baddington, Wellington College
Jett Timbrell, St Andrew’s College Christchurch
Josh Shore, Lincoln University Rugby Football Club
Junior Slade, Pakuranga United Rugby Club
Kane Shedlock, Brisbane Boys College
Kitiona Talaepa, Petone Rugby Football Club
Luke Goodman, Hautapu Sports Club
Matt Harris, College Rifles Rugby Football Club
Max Talbot, Kelston Boys’ High School
Niko Boylan, Southern Rugby Football Club
Noah Rogers, University of Waikato Rugby Club
Oliver Groenewald, Sacred Heart College, Auckland
Poliko Javaan Faalialia, Southland Boys’ High School
Reuben McIntyre, Stoke Rugby Football Club
Santino Naufahu, Grammar Tech Rugby Club
Sean Burgess, Hautapu Sports Club
Solomone Tuitupou, Takapuna Rugby Football Club
Toni Tuuhoko Pole, Saint Kentigern College
Triumph Voice, Hastings Rugby & Sports Club
Viliami Rongokea Tupou, Kia Toa Rugby Football Club

Not considered due to NPC commitment: Will Davis-Lenz (Petone Football Club)

Not considered due to injury: Tom Hazeldine (Lincoln University RFC) and Brock Reid (Kaikorai RFC)

Coaching team

• Head Coach: Greg Feek, Blues
• Assistant Coach: Tasesa Lavea, Saint Kentigern College
• Assistant Coach: Matt Howling, Kelston Boys’ High School

New Zealand Māori Under 18 Ngā Whatukura; Name, School, Iwi

Amjayden Mauga, Dilworth College, Ngāpuhi; Waikato
Campbell Bibbie, Rangitoto College, Ngāti Hine (Te Tai Tokerau)
Carlo Isaac, Havelock North Rugby Football Club, Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa
Casey Wright, Whangārei Boys’ High School, Ngāpuhi
Cruz Marra, St Peter’s School Cambridge, Tūhoe
Elijah (Eli) Wharepouri, Rosmini College, Te Ātiawa (Taranaki); Taranaki
Elliot Wilson, Southland Boys’ High School, Ngāti Ruanui
Enzo Kyle, Christchurch Boys’ High School, Ngāti Kahungunu ki Heretaunga
Ethan McSkimming, Otago Boys’ High School, Ngāi Tahu/Kāi Tahu
Frano Chaplin, Christchurch Boys’ High School, Ngāti Tama (Taranaki)
George Hemopo, Kelston Boys’ High School, Ngāti Kahungunu ki Heretaunga
Isaiah Edwards, Hamilton Boys’ High School, Whakatōhea
Jackson Hill-Brown, St Paul’s Collegiate School, Waikato; Ngāti Tiipa
Keanu Simpson, Sacred Heart College, Auckland, Ngāti Rangitihi
Kingston Ngata, Feilding High School, Te Āti Haunui-a-Pāpārangi
Lafa Tofiga, King’s High School, Ngāti Maniapoto
Malachi Emmett, Mount Maunganui Rugby Club, Ngāpuhi
Mason Barry, Rotorua Boys’ High School, Ngāti Maniapoto; Whakatōhea
Paice Mitchell-Hopa, Palmerston North Boys’ High School, Ngāti Tūwharetoa (ki Taupō); Waikato
Paihia Kaho, Nelson College, Ngāti Porou
Ryder Thompson, St Patrick’s College Silverstream, Ngāti Porou; Rangitāne (Te Matau-a-Māui/Hawke’s Bay/Wairarapa); Tainui Awhiro; Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa
Sol Anderson, Auckland Grammar School, Ngāti Wai
Synton Bowden, Hamilton Old Boys, Ngāti Maniapoto
Taowaru Waititi, Rotorua Boys’ High School, Te Whānau-a-Apānui; Ngāti Porou
Tommy McQuoid, Tauranga Boys’ College, Ngāpuhi
Tyson Forbes, Wesley College, Ngāti Awa

Coaching team

• Head Coach: Kahu Carey; Rangitāne o Wairau, Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō
• Assistant Coach: Ryan Griffiths; Ngāi Tahu/Kāi Tahu
• Assistant Coach: Brendan Nolan; Ngāi Tahu/ Kāi Tahu, Te Ātiawa o Te Waka-a-Māui

The U18 High Performance Camp 2026 match schedule is:

Game Day 1: 26 September:

• NZ Schools v Waikato Under 19, kick-off 3.30pm
• NZ Barbarians U18 v Tonga U18, kick-off 2.00pm
• NZ Māori U18 v Samoa U18, kick-off 12.30pm
• Australia U18 v Australia Schools  (to be played in Australia)

Game Day 2: 30 September

• NZ Schools v Australia Schools, kick-off 3.30pm
• NZ Barbarians U18 v Australia U18, kick-off 2.00pm
• NZ Māori v Waikato Under 19, kick-off 12.30pm
• Tonga U18 v Samoa U18, kick-off 11.00am

Game Day 3: 4 October

• NZ Schools v Australia U18, kick-off 3.30pm
• NZ Barbarians U18 v Samoa, kick-off U18 2.00pm
• NZ Māori v Australia Schools, kick-off 12.30pm
• Tonga U18 v Taranaki Under 18, kick-off 11.00am