The Chiefs Rugby Club is proud to welcome 52 of the region’s most promising young players to the University of Waikato Chiefs U18 Development Camp, set to take place at St Paul’s Collegiate later this week.
The camp is a key part of the Chiefs Pathways Programme, bringing together secondary school players from the seven provincial unions that make up Chiefs Country. It provides a unique opportunity for young athletes to develop their on-field skills and gain insight on what it takes to become a Gallagher Chief.
Players will take part in workshops on performance, nutrition, wellbeing, leadership, and life as a professional athlete. They will also have the chance to learn from a host of high-calibre rugby minds, including Liam Messam, Neil Barnes, Pingi Talaapitaga, Hika Elliot, Hamilton Burr, Mark Selwyn, Cory Sweeney, Mike Delany, Jackson Willison, and Grant McQuoid.
For some, the camp is also a first step towards wearing the Chiefs jersey with selectors on hand looking for players who could represent the club at higher levels. Graduates of the U18 programme include current Gallagher Chiefs and All Blacks Emoni Narawa, Tupou Vaa’i, Luke Jacobson, Samipeni Finau, and Cortez Ratima, a testament to the strength of the pathway and the depth of talent within the region.
University of Waikato U18 Development Camp Selection 2025
- Alapati Soagia, St Peter’s Cambridge
- Alex Arnold, Hamilton Boys’ High School
- Ben Parnwell, St John’s College
- Brad Meek, St Peter’s Cambridge
- Brody Leicester, New Plymouth Boys’ High School
- Bronson van der Heyden, Rotorua Boys’ High School
- Cassius Meleiseā, Manurewa High School
- Cody Renata, Rotorua Boys’ High School
- Cullen Parai, Hamilton Boys’ High School
- Decky Kelly, Tauranga Boys’ High School
- Devontae Pasi, Manurewa High School
- Epeli Pohiva, Wesley College
- Flynn Morey, St Peter’s Cambridge
- George Roose, Hamilton Boys’ High School
- Harper Mills, St John’s College
- Harry Fevre, Stratford Eltham Rugby Club
- Hauraki Hira, Pukekohe Rugby Club
- Hieke McGarvey, Rotorua Boys’ High School
- Hunter Weaver, Rotorua Boys’ High School
- Ioapo Kupita, Tauranga Boys’ High School
- Isi Qaranivalu, Hastings Boys’ High School
- Isi Tuutafaiva, Rotorua Boys’ High School
- Izzy Kamana, St Peter’s Cambridge
- Jackson Edwards, St Peter’s Cambridge
- Jamie Viljoen, Palmerston North Boys’ High School
- Jesse West, St Peter’s Cambridge
- Kahn Charlton, Tauranga Boys’ High School
- Kobe Stranks-Rose, St Peter’s Cambridge
- Leighton Jones, Hamilton Old Boys Rugby Club
- Liam van der Heyden, Hamilton Boys’ High School
- Lucas Hale, St Paul’s Collegiate
- Lucas Makiha, Wesley College
- Luke Goodman, New Plymouth Boys’ High School
- Luke Rakuraku, Rotorua Boys’ High School
- Malachi Emmett, Tauranga Boys’ High School
- Maxwell Kara, Hamilton Boys’ High School
- Nathan Stephens, Hamilton Boys’ High School
- Noah Walker, Hamilton Boys’ High School
- Ollie Guerin, Hamilton Boys’ High School
- P’Torio Taimalie, Papakura High School
- Quintus Daniell, St Paul’s Collegiate
- Rhydian Spice, Tauranga Boys’ High School
- Samuel McIntosh, Francis Douglas Memorial College
- Simiona Auimatagi, University of Waikato Rugby Club
- Solomone Mailulu, Rotorua Boys’ High School
- Te Ariki Rogers, Rotorua Boys’ High School
- Teina Beets, Te Awamutu College
- Tini Manuika, Wesley College
- Tokoaitua Owen, Rotorua Boys’ High School
- Tommy McQuoid, Tauranga Boys’ High School
- Whaitiri Preston, Bombay Rugby Club
- Zayden Bradley, Matamata College
