The intensive five-day residential camp is a cornerstone of the Hurricanes’ development system, designed to sharpen young talent from across the lower North Island. The Whanganui Collegiate boys will look to make their mark alongside other under-eighteen players selected from provincial unions across Wellington, Hawke’s Bay, Manawatū, Wairarapa Bush, Poverty Bay, Horowhenua Kapiti, and their own home region of Whanganui. The camp provides these selected players with a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in a professional rugby environment over the course of the week.

Far from a standard training camp, the curriculum is a taster of modern high-performance sport. The core rugby components driving the camp focus on the official Hurricanes Pathway, establishing strong coach and player connections, and conducting individual rugby skill assessments. Beyond physical and tactical work, the young athletes will receive education in nutrition, mental sports skills, game analysis, and match performance, all while adapting to the physical conditioning demands required at the next level.

The high-performance environment will be led by top-tier Hurricanes coaching staff and management, working alongside select personnel from New Zealand Rugby and the New Zealand Rugby Players’ Association. For Mabin, Afamasaga, Olds, Waqanisau, and Prouting, it’s a well-deserved honour, and one more step on the road toward the professional game.

“The WCS Rugby Supporters Club is incredibly proud of the school’s strong representation at the Hurricanes U-18 Training Camp. Having five players from the 1st XV selected is a significant achievement and highlights the importance of WCS remaining strong in rugby and competitive within the CNI 1st XV competition.

Success at this level creates opportunities for our boys to earn recognition and selections such as these. We know they will represent both themselves and the school admirably.” – Blair Ross, WCS Rugby Supporters Club