Scores first try on 29 August

Fourteen year-old Daniel Kim from South Korea started playing rugby this year to help deepen his experience of St. Bede's College and New Zealand. Despite the disrupted season, Daniel has made steady progress, gaining a working understanding of the sport that he didn't even know existed before he came to Christchurch. He has made new friends and says that he enjoys the controlled rough and tumble that rugby offers. On Saturday 29 August, Daniel scored his first ever try and was selected as player-of-the-match for his efforts. 

U14B head coach Pete Manson says: "Daniel’s latched onto a very basic element of Kiwi sporting culture. He’s loving rugby and enjoys playing with his new mates. He’s getting exactly the same as what so many New Zealanders got from rugby at his age, but for Daniel it’s a totally new experience."  

Student coach Jack Coakley says: "'Daniel's enthusiasm and eagerness to learn has allowed him to grow by leaps and bounds in his rugby skills and knowledge of the game."  This sentiment is echoed by co-coach Jack Ryan: "Daniel arrived in the team with a huge desire to learn and improve his game. It's been great seeing him develop over the season." 

Team manager Andy Spanton says, "He's strong, athletic, focused and is now doing the simple things well."

We wish Daniel well with his rugby at St. Bede's