One of Ōpōtiki’s most talented rugby players has represented his Māori heritage recently as part of the New Zealand Māori under-18 Schoolboys team.

Ngawai Amoamo, a talented loose forward who has been schooling at Sacred Heart College in Auckland, was picked on the back of a strong campaign in the Auckland 1A Schools competition.

Ngawai said participating in the camp where they played the Chiefs under-18s and New Zealand Barbarians was a surreal opportunity.

“I found the camp to be a great experience. There was a lot of content not only about rugby but also the Māori culture. Scheduled days planned for trainings, activities, recovery sessions and created a professional environment.

He said one of the best parts was creating lifelong friendships and staying at the marae as a team.

“Going into the camp not knowing many people was daunting but also exciting as it posed an opportunity to connect and forge relationships with new people.”

He’s proud of his season and the performances he’s put out on the park this year.

“The rugby season for my team (Sacred Heart College first XV) had been gruelling and physical, often coming up against prestigious schools with big players. These games created a battle both physically and mentally, often coming down to the wire on the score board.”

The opportunity to represent the New Zealand Māori is something he will cherish forever.

“It was a humbling experience …. Coming from a small town and playing rugby in the Auckland 1A competition has been a big step up in my rugby career but has been fuelled by the support of my family and friends. Being given the opportunity to play for the NZ Māori team is a foundational part of my journey and I am very grateful for the opportunity to represent my family, town and iwi on the national stage.”

As expected, the games were fast paced.

“The two games that were played against the chiefs u18s and NZ Barbarians were on a different level. Both were fast paced and very physical. Players on both teams were well experienced and developed around the game of rugby which led to tough match ups and interesting game play.”

He’s looking forward to returning in 2026 and helping Sacred Heart College and their quest for an Auckland title.

Overall, he loved the entire experience.

“My personal highlight of the experience was putting on the jersey and playing for my family, school and town. Being given the opportunity to also play for the past players who had worn the same number was also another highlight.”

He set himself the goal of making the Māori side at the start of the year.

“Multiple steps were taken in making the NZ Māori side. First a Hurricanes regional camp in April, with trainings and games to be selected for the national camp. From the three regional camps across the country, 44 players were selected to train and play against each other at the national camp in July, showing skill for selection for the NZ Māori team. With selection tight players were then selected for the 28 man NZ Māori squad.”

Ngawai was pleased with his efforts in the Auckland competition.

“The Auckland competition was long and gruelling. Starting off slow, we fell short to a well drilled Kings College side but progressively grew throughout the season, going on a nine-game win streak until we encountered St Kentigerns in the final round, ending the season with a draw and then playing them again in the semifinal, suffering a season-ending loss.”