Just hours after arriving in the Land of the Long White Cloud this morning (Friday 29 June), rugby players from The Armidale School were on the paddock training for an 11-day tour where they will be face some of the best young rugby players in New Zealand.
The 46-man squad of under16s and Opens players, accompanied by five staff, will face Cromwell College, West Otago under 18s, Christchurch Boys’ High School and Shirley Boys High School in games that will test their mettle and skills.
They will also experience training sessions with elite level Canterbury and Crusaders coaches, have breakfast with All Blacks Sam Whitelock, Codie Taylor and Jack Goodhue and attend a Super Rugby fixture between Crusaders and Highlanders.
TAS has been taking development squads to the South Island of New Zealand since 2005.
“This annual tour is always a highlight for our boys, giving them some great experience by playing against some of the great rugby schools of New Zealand, as well as coaching advice from some of the best in the business,” TAS Director of Co-Curricular Will Caldwell said.
“At the same time they are building friendships with each other and their hosts, whilst getting the chance to experience activities like snow skiing, jet boating, go-kart racing, hot springs and the International Antarctic Centre.”
The tour returns on 9 July.
The TAS team hit the ground running this afternoon (29 June) with a training session at the Queenstown Events Centre, in the shadow of the scenic Remarkables mountain range.
