Southland Pair in Gold Coast with NZ Under 16s
Touch Southland’s Nick Mason & Shianna Templeton are gaining invaluable experience and expertise as they take on touch teams across Queensland and the Gold Coast as members of New Zealand Under-16 Mixed Green & Black teams respectively. The mixed tour follows on from both the Under-16 Boys & Girls tours earlier this month.
Touch New Zealand highlights the aim of these tours is to give like-minded and skilled players with potential, the pathway into the elite touch environment and the opportunity to experience a different style of game in another country.
Shianna who attends Southland Girls’ High and Nick, Southland Boys’ High, represented Southland at the 2018 Grassroots TNZ Junior Nationals held in Auckland back in February. Both players played significant roles in helping their Under-16 mixed side secure a bronze medal in the hotly contested grade. Their performances secured them selection in national sides.
Southland under-16 mixed coach Scott Eade, who also attended a similar tour as a player, noted both were deserving of national recognition.
“Nick and Shianna both had standout tournaments at Junior Nationals. Nick became a real strike weapon for us with his speed and touchdown scoring ability close to the line in one on one situations. Shianna got better and better across the tournament scoring some great touchdowns and making impressive reads on defence.”
He also mentioned the positive impact these tours can have on players skills and understanding of the game.
“I was lucky enough to go on one of these tours myself so have first-hand seen the benefits. I think the biggest thing they will get out of the tour will be a lot of self-belief and confidence in their own game as a touch player, wearing the silver fern will provide them with the platform to hopefully progress further in the future.”
The pair won’t have to wait long for more action, as the touch season quickly kicks into gear. They will be a part of the Southland under-18 teams with both graduating to the under-18 level. This year’s tournaments for the pair and their team mates will include an Inter-Southland competition held in Winton on November 4th. The Otago Southland IPS held in Invercargill on November 18th and the Triangular Series with Canterbury and Otago in Oamaru on the 1st of December.
On top of the current tour, a number of other Southland players will attend the TNZ Talent Identification Camp held at Kings High, Auckland in early October.
We hope to catch up with both players when they return and get an insight into their experience.
Source: Touch Southland