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Michael Kelly (left) and Ethan Thompson are two of three Cook Islands lads in the touring Mt Albert Grammar School’s first XV rugby tour.

Oneal Rongo, a product of the Arorangi Cowboys rugby club, was unavailable for the photo–as in true Cook Islands style the young man was busy helping family with chores.

Michael Kelly has blood links to Aitutaki where he spent most of his time on his first trip to the islands some years ago.

Kelly, who is of the Poroveta family of Aitutaki, says that he wouldn’t mind representing the Cook Islands in rugby but at the end of the day – he just loves playing sport.

His team mate Ethan Thompson, who has blood ties to the island of Mangaia through his Teau and Tini families, has already donned the green and gold of the Cook Islands.

The young man filled in for the Cook Islands under 19 team on tour in Auckland last year.

He says he hasn’t given much thought to representing the Cooks in the future but wouldn’t say no if called on.

The pair along with their team mate are loving the islands as they wind down on the end of year tour after coming 3rd overall in the Auckland schoolboy rugby championships.