During the first week of the July school holidays, ten of this year’s 1st XV were invited to the Crusader Knights live-in camp held at St Andrews College.

The boys selected for the camp were: Ewan Milnes, Adam Reid, Zachary Wilson, Jackson Murray, Harry Hall, Ben Donkers, Louie Chapman, Alex Harford, Atu Manu and Latham Kelly-Foleni.

Held over four days, the camp covered a range of areas to help the boys in their player development including, nutrition, strength and conditioning, the issues of drugs in sport and what life may be like as a professional rugby player.

On the Tuesday a trial was held to select a Crusader Knights team to play a game against the Hurricanes Schools’ equivalent. From that trial, three of the boys – Louie Chapman, Ewan Milnes and Ben Donkers were selected in the side, with both Louie and Ewan being named in the starting line-up. What is quite remarkable, is that Louie, through his selection as the starting halfback, was adjudged the number one in his position in the Crusaders region, yet is only a year 11 student.

While the Crusader Knights were very competitive in the first half of this match, in fact leading 20-17 at halftime, a very poor second half saw them soundly beaten in the end 64-20.

The boys are sure to have gained a lot of knowledge from the camp that they can use not only through the rest of this season, but in their future years after leaving Christchurch Boys’ High School.

The 1st XV are currently placed 2nd behind Christs’ College in the UC Championship. They have games left against St Andrews – 30 July and Shirley Boys’ High School – 6 August, before a likely home semi-final at home on 13 August.