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New Zealand Rugby confirms interest in schoolboy sprinting sensation who ran 100m in 10.19 seconds

Edward Osei-Nketia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

New Zealand Rugby have confirmed their interest in schoolboy sprinting sensation Edward Osei-Nketia.

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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.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cPCEZ5Vmo0

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.

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“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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Nickers 22 minutes ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

I thought we made a lot of progress against that type of defence by the WC last year. Lots of direct running and punching holes rather than using width. Against that type of defence I think you have to be looking to kick on first phase when you have front foot ball which we did relatively successfully. We are playing a lot of rugby behind the gain line at the moment. They are looking for those little interchanges for soft shoulders and fast ball or off loads but it regularly turns into them battering away with slow ball and going backwards, then putting in a very rushed kick under huge pressure.


JB brought that dimension when he first moved into 12 a couple of years ago but he's definitely not been at his best this year. I don't know if it is because he is being asked to play a narrow role, or carrying a niggle or two, but he does not look confident to me. He had that clean break on the weekend and stood there like he was a prop who found himself in open space and didn't know what to do with the ball. He is still a good first phase ball carrier though, they use him a lot off the line out to set up fast clean ball, but I don't think anyone is particularly clear on what they are supposed to do at that point. He was used really successfully as a second playmaker last year but I don't think he's been at that role once this year. He is a triple threat player but playing a very 1 dimensional role at the moment. He and Reiko have been absolutely rock solid on defence which is why I don't think there will be too much experimentation or changes there.

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