Rugby: The All Blacks have nothing on these dudes

The Dunedin under-13 rugby team at Kettle Park yesterday. Front row (from left): Caleb Kelekolio (12), Will Campbell (13), Niko Tili (12) and Connell Webb (13). Middle row: Cody Johnston (13), Quinn Ferguson (12), Hayes Newman (13), Tevita Schaff (11), Lucas Govaerts (13), Sean Stewart (13), Luka Casey (13) and Caleb Bennett (12). Back row: Cassius Marunui (12), Ruaidhri Brosnan (13), Jake Tehiwi (12), Karamuu Taratoa Bannister (13), Oliver Griffin (13), Simon Pupualii (13), Braedon Jansen (13) and Tylar Diack (13). Photo by Linda Robertson

Well, they have nothing on the Dunedin under-13 team.

The side is built around players who have been together since 2008 and have lost just three games since they started playing in the under-7 grade.

Counting the Taieri sevens, which they have won every year apart from this year, they have racked up more than 100 victories in seven years. They lost two games last year but still won the competition.

The side has been coached by John Tili all the way through, and 14 of the side's 23 players have made representative sides this year. More than half of the players have been in the team from the start.

The bulk of the team is set to play for the Kavanagh College under-14 side next year.

The team trains twice a week and has been doing so since playing in the under-8 grade.

The Dunedin under-13s have racked up some big victories already this season and will be looking to finish the season with a bang, taking on Alhambra-Union in a semifinal this weekend.