A Columba College pupil who started playing rugby only two years ago will represent New Zealand internationally in September.
Lyla Bowering, 14, of Dunedin, is set to represent New Zealand as part of an under-15 sevens team at the inaugural Heritage Rugby Cup in France.
The team was selected by the New Zealand Rugby Players Association in partnership with Condor Rugby Football Club.
The Heritage Rugby Cup will be hosted at Pontlevoy Abbey where 28 teams from around the world will compete over five days.
As well as playing rugby, the teams will take part in a cooking challenge to show off their traditions and cultures and will make a short film illustrating the value of world rugby.
Lyla said along with sultana buds and a smoothie for breakfast, having an athletic background was the secret to her early success.
"I have been training lots for touch and athletics and it’s helped a lot with my rugby ... and ... showing up to everything and stuff like that has really helped me learn."
Lyla started playing rugby for Balmacewen Intermediate because the sport had always been in her family.
"My brothers have been really into rugby, both of them have played their whole lives, and my dad loves rugby and he goes to any rugby."
"I just thought I’d give it a try and I really loved it."
"Lyla’s very very fast, she's probably the fastest person in our school and ... being a year 10 in our school that's incredible.
“She’s been doing athletics for basically her whole life, and it really shows in whatever sport she plays but she's also really strong so not only can she run around people, but she can fend and she can tackle.
"She’s kind of got all the skill sets you fundamentally need ... [for] an athlete so everything else we can teach on top of that.”
Lyla would not be able train with the rest of her team because they were scattered around New Zealand, Ms Turnbull said.
However, Otago Spirit vice-captain and former Columba College first XV captain Maia Joseph and Otago Rugby Football Union development manager Kane Jury would help Lyla train.
Two squads of 12 players each for a boys’ team and a girls’ team will travel to France at the end of August.
Lyla will have Southland Girls’ High School pupil Alexandra Wisely as a team-mate in France and will be joined by Otago Boys’ High School pupils Rahui Valli, 13, and Toni Tuuhokopole, 14, who are set to compete in the boys’ team.
