FOR the first time in 30 years, the Shoalhaven will host an international schoolboys rugby union team, from Samoa, in a clash at Rugby Park.
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The Shoalhaven team, a combination of local school students and players from around the area, will be coached by Nowra Anglican College's Daniel Toole, for their clash on September 20.
"Over the past 10 years, Nowra Anglican College has had more than 20 boys, and more recently quite a few girls, play at the NSW Rugby Schoolboy Championships," Toole said.
"The Australian Schoolboy Association noticed this increased involvement and approached our school to host the Samoan National Schoolboys team (under 18s), in their first trial game before they play the Australian Schoolboys team later in the year."
Toole and his school jumped at this opportunity, which took more than a year to organise, once the wheels got in motion.
"Rugby is a big part of the NAC sporting culture," Toole said.
"We have more than 80 boys and girls who play the code and this game reflects the effort our school puts into rugby.
"The chance to play an international team happens to very few people and this game will be remembered by our boys for the rest of their lives."
The Samoan team will arrive in the Shoalhaven on Wednesday, September 18, before the match two days later on Friday, kicking off at 6.30pm.
During their stay here, the Samoan boys will be billeted out by players on Toole's 25-man squad, which encompasses players from all across the Shoalhaven and South Coast.
"While the Samoan team is here, I hope our players develop an appreciation of the quality of people from other nations," he said.
"It's also a great chance to play rugby at a high level and experience a different culture, including the pacific pre-game haka."
Headlining Toole's squad are NAC students Chris Ireland, Ethan Mosely, Kaylam Tytherleigh, Maximillien Goode, Angus Ellem, Connor Tytherleigh, Cooper Jessep, Patrick Orr, Kian Shepherd, Cooper Thomson, Lachlan Sutton and Aidan Wearne, who will skipper the side.
Joining these 12 in the squad are Shoalhaven Rugby Club's Zeb Maddinson, Matthew Stewart, Blake Gurney, Tate Winning, Ky Lucas and Jet Fraser, Bomaderry High School's Louie Chilver, Vincentia High School's Mitch Ireland, Kiama High School's Blake Curls, The Illawarra Grammar School's Sebastian Di Noro, Covenant Christian School's Ben Watkins, Belmont Christian College's Nicholas Benn and Shire Christian School's Turoa Williams.
"Unfortunately, as much as we would like it to be, this concept is unlikely to become a regular feature for us," Toole said.
"There are many other schools who would like this opportunity - we have just been honoured with the game.
"If it goes well, the ASRU will certainly look upon us favourably in the future."
Following their Kennedy's Tours match in Nowra, the Samoan side will visit Canberra and the Central West before their clash with the Australian Schoolboys in Sydney in October.