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- By Henry Lee, AUT Journalism Student
With the Blues only recording one victory in Super Rugby Pacific so far this season, head coach Vern Cotter is putting faith in former Saint Kentigern College student Xavi Taele to try and help write the wrongs of the opening four games.
The young midfielder debuted for the Auckland NPC team in last season’s Bunnings NPC competition, before earning a contract with the Auckland-based Super Rugby side for this year.
Taele is lining up alongside All Blacks loose forward Dalton Papali’i and halfback Sam Nock, who also attended St Kents in Pakuranga.
The young midfielder was also the captain of the St Kents First XV.
Taele will make his Blues debut against the Chiefs in Hamilton on Saturday night, in front of a loud home crowd whose side will have extra motivation after they were defeated in Lautoka against the Fijian Drua last weekend.
He was a recipient of the Michael Garner Scholarship and named in the New Zealand Under-20 side to play in the U20 Rugby World Cup in South Africa last year.
Taele went on to claim the New Zealand Rugby Age Grade Player of the Year at the 2024 ASB Rugby Awards after being named vice-captain of the U20 New Zealand side that finished third in the tournament.
