New Zealand Rugby confirms interest in schoolboy sprinting sensation who ran 100m in 10.19 seconds
New Zealand Rugby have confirmed their interest in schoolboy sprinting sensation Edward Osei-Nketia.
The 17-year-old, son of Ghanian-born New Zealand 100m record-holder Gus Nketia, has dominated headlines in New Zealand media recently for his exploits in track and field.
Osei-Nketia last month claimed the New Zealand 100m title at the national championships in Christchurch, and doubled up by securing the Australian title in Sydney over the weekend.
In the semi-finals of the Australian event, he clocked a blistering personal best time of 10.19 seconds, making him New Zealand's fourth-fastest sprinter ever and just 0.08 seconds shy of his father's record.
Born in New Zealand but having lived in Australia in recent years, a battle is playing out between the two counties for Osei-Nketia to commit his services to either one of the respective nation's athletic federations.
While Osei-Nketia has outlined his ambition to dethrone his father as the fastest man New Zealand has ever produced, he has also stated his intentions to play for the All Blacks.
Osei-Nketia played 1st XV rugby at St Edmunds College during his time in Canberra, and told Stuff in a recent interview that he averaged "three to four" tries per game.
Now living in Wellington and attending Scots College, Osei-Nketia, who is yet to be introduced to weight training, is expected to star for the school's 1st XV in the Wellington schools competition in the coming months, and has already garnered interest from the Hurricanes and the All Blacks Sevens.
Speaking to Stuff, New Zealand Rugby player development manager Matt Sexton confirmed that the national union were looking into the prospect of securing Osei-Nketia's future.
"Like everyone else, we're delighted for Edward and his recent success on the track," he said.
"We're always interested in talented athletes who have aspirations in our game. We look forward to watching him play rugby for Scots College this year."
With dimensions of 1.90m and 95kg, Osei-Nketia - who said his rugby idols are the Savea brothers, and told The Project on Monday that he wants to leave a Jonah Lomu-like legacy on the All Blacks - has the physical attributes to be a lethal winger in rugby union, and former Olympic sprinter Chris Donaldson believes he has the potential to make the cross-code switch.
"Even by the token of his physical attributes, he's big and strong and he's obviously only going to get stronger so he could be an outstanding rugby player," Donaldson told Stuff.
"I'm not sure of the skills he has and that sort of stuff but in regards to his physical attributes he's got all those gifts that most people don't have to start with so it will be interesting to see what rugby want to do and the opportunities there.
"He's faster than anyone in world rugby at moment so I really want to see him play and see what he's like."
Osei-Nketia wouldn't be the first sprinter to make an impact in rugby, with former USA Olympic track and field hopeful Carlin Isles making the switch to sevens in 2012.
Making his World Series debut on the Gold Coast in October that year, Isles, whose personal best in 100m is 10.24 seconds, has gone on to make over 200 appearances for the national side in a seven-year career which has seen him attend the 2016 Rio Olympics and place as the ninth-highest try scorer in World Series history with 174 tries.
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It might be legal but he’s sailing pretty close to the wind. Not a lot needs to go wrong for Finau to end up in the bin. Was it late? Not quite, but borderline. High? A couple of CM within the laws, no room for error with that one. Did he wrap the arms? There was a token effort to wrap one arm, the intent was clearly to hit with the shoulder. So yeah, it’s legal, just. But as we all know, a very slight change in the dynamics could easily have him seeing red. Hopefully not when it really matters.
Go to commentsYou forget this is Rassie Erasmus who is still holding the Springbok keys. Even with Felix Jones orchestrating a really tight RWC SF last year. It still wasn't enough to get England past their particular Springbok Monkey in world cups. The reason is FJ was going off of what they did in 2019 not necessarily adapting to current Springboks. So yes, Australia can get passed England because let's be honest, England have a one track strategy, Springboks do not. Even with rush defense I wouldn't be surprised if Rassie continually tweaks it. Also bear in mind Rassie is happy to sacrifice a few mid year and inter World Cup matches to pin point how opposition plays and how to again tweak strategies to get his Springboks in peak performance for the next World Cup. As much as most teams like to win games in front of them and try to win everything, Rassie always makes sure to learn and train for the greatest showdown International Rugby has to offer. Tbh, most people remember World Cup wins and ignore intermediate losses as a result but will remember also WC losses, Ireland, even if they won games in the interim. So even if games are won against the Springboks, it's likely Rassie is just getting a feel for how opposition is moving and adapt accordingly…in time. For Rassie, a loss is never a loss because he uses it as a chance to learn and improve. Sometimes during a game, again like the England match in last year's Semi Final.
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