Southland's Kiseki Fifita named in NZ schools rugby team
“He’s next level, he could go a very, very long way."
Impressive Southland Boys’ High School wing Kiseki Fifta has been named in the New Zealand Schools rugby team.
Fifta has had a breakout year with the Southland Boys’ first XV and played a lead role in helping the Invercargill school to its first national title.
He is the sole Southlander in the New Zealand schools team named on Friday.
Speaking to The Roaring Pen podcast earlier this week SBHS first XV coach Jason Dermody said Fifta had a very bright future and had suggested he should be in strong contention for the national team.
“When I first saw Kiseki play he reminded me of Israel Folau. Just the skillset on him. I’ve never seen a kid that got such great hands from a high ball.
“He’s next level, he could go a very, very long way,” Dermody said in The Roaring Pen podcast interview.
Fifita’s right-hand fend had not only caught a lot of opposition defenders off guard but Dermody indicated it had also piqued the interest of the likes of New Zealand Schools coach Kane Jury.
“He deserves [a place in the NZ schools team]. He would be one of our top two or three players this season.”
“He’s a fantastic kid, very well grounded. He’s got a great family around him that keeps him grounded.
“He’s got a big future in front of him.”
Fifita comes from a high-achieving sports family with his sister Losa previously playing for the New Zealand Secondary Schools netball team, while another older sister Taneisha has played for the Southern Steel.
Fifta started at centre in Southland Boys’ historic 32-29 victory over Westlake Boys’ High School on Sunday, although that was to provide injury cover.
He has had the biggest impact on the wing in 2023 which included scoring a hat-trick of tries in the first half of the South Island final against Christchurch Boys’ High School.
Meanwhile, in more good news Southland Boys’ High School loosehead prop JJ Fisher has been included in the New Zealand Barbarians team. Hooker Hoani Nikora-Wilson and second five-eighth Amaziah Mitchell have both been named in the Under-18 New Zealand Maori team.
THE SCHEDULE
Saturday 23 September - St Pauls Collegiate, Hamilton
New Zealand Māori U18 v Northland U19, 12.00pm kick-off
New Zealand Schools v NZ Barbarian U18, 2.00pm kick-off
Thursday 28 September - St Pauls Collegiate, Hamilton
New Zealand Māori U18 v New Zealand Barbarian U18, 12.00pm kick-off
New Zealand Schools Trans-Tasman
Thursday 28 September - Viking Park, Canberra, Australia
Australia U18 v New Zealand Schools, 2.05pm (AEST)/4.05pm (NZT) kick-off
Monday 2 October - Viking Park, Canberra, Australia
Australia U18 v New Zealand Schools, 12.05pm (AEST)/2.05pm (NZT) kick-off
So which schools supplied the rest of the team?