Sio Tomkinson has had a year to remember on the rugby field, and it has been capped with selection in the New Zealand schools side.
Tomkinson (18) was one of two Otago Boys' High School players named in the team this week. He is joined by prop Jonah Aoina, while loose forward Matt Heffernan and prop Sione Asi made the New Zealand Barbarians side.
Both the Barbarians and the New Zealand schools side will take on the Fijian and Australian schools teams in Wellington over the next week.
Tomkinson has been in camp this week with the national side and could not be contacted.
Otago Boys' First XV coach Ryan Martin said Tomkinson had a great training ethic and that transferred to the playing field.
''He has never missed a practice, never missed a game in three years. He has got such a tremendous work ethic which you can see throughout the game,'' Martin said.
''To play 64 consecutive games for the First XV and front up in every one of those games shows what sort of player he is.''
Tomkinson was a special player who had shown out at the trials for the national side and beaten some top players to make the squad, Martin said.
Tomkinson's 64 straight games for the Otago Boys' First XV is a record.
As the side's goal kicker, he has managed to amass more than 450 points.
That is believed to be a school record, and no-one is likely to match his appearance tally.
The year 13 pupil leaves school at the end of the year and Martin said he would have plenty of unions after him.
But he had a sensible head on his shoulders and would not rush things to consider where he would play next year.
Whatever option he took would be the best for him and his game, Martin said.
Otago has been in contact and will be keen to keep one of the region's leading talents in the province.
Tomkinson started his secondary schooling at Kavanagh College and switched to Otago Boys' at the start of year 11.
