In just his first season with the One Tree Hill College first 15, Cook Islands teenager Levi McKinley-Sadaraka has gone from newbie to the team’s co-captain.

The 17-year-old son of local businessman and Cook Islands Rugby Union president Chris McKinley and Lisa Sadaraka is a product of the Arorangi sports club enrolled into the school with the help of the Cook Islands Rugby Union and the Success Education New Zealand (SENZ) programme.

The college’s first 15 rugby team competes in the Auckland Secondary Schools 1B competition – a competition McKinley found a rewarding challenge.

The talented youngster started the season as one of the team’s ‘new boys’ but his skills and leadership qualities caught the eye of coaches Terry Kimiangatau and Joe Qionimua who quickly realised they were seeing a player who possessed not only very good rugby skills but also a well-founded knowledge of the game of rugby.

”Levis’ leadership was evident from early on in the season,“ recalled coach Terry Kimiangatau.

”He attended every pre-season training and demonstrated a great ability to communicate and empower his fellow players. It’s been a good season for Levi with the Auckland 1B representative coaches inquiring recently about his future in rugby.“

His coaches say that McKinley has taken his responsibility to heart, and throughout the season has played with such commitment and passion that he is an inspiration to the rest of the team.

”Levi has become a good friend to me both on and off the field and he leads by example,“ says team lock forward Josese Gaunavou. ”He bonds the players together and is always there for us.“

”He is a great leader both on and off the field,“ adds loose forward Isaac Tatu Grace.

”He is so respectful to us all and has helped my discipline no end this year.“

Off the field, the young Cook Islander is also excelling academically and has received glowing praise from his teachers and is thriving in the environment at the college.

”I found it easy to settle in at One Tree Hill College,“ says McKinley.

”I’m enjoying my rugby and like the atmosphere and culture that’s in the team and I am impressed with the amount of support we get from staff members attending games and showing interest in the team.“

Members of the One Tree Hill College first 15 rugby team all have to sign a contract before they can play for the team.

The contract (which is signed by the player, his parents, and the college) stresses that a player must show appropriate behaviour and learning progress in the classroom, as well as be a worthwhile member of the team on the field whose play reflects a pride in representing the college.

”It is the first time that I have ever struck a behaviour register but it certainly pushes you academically and monitors your behaviour around school. It makes you want to bring pride to the college.“

When asked how he finds the standard of rugby the college’s team is involved in, McKinley grins, ”It’s a very good standard of rugby we play – I’ve found there are no easy games!“

Principal Nick Coughlan says that the young Cook Islander has been a good addition to the college and he is doing very well.

McKinley encourages his fellow rugby friends back home on Rarotonga to consider One Tree Hill College as their future school.

”After experiencing the life here, I would whole-heartedly recommend One Tree Hill College to any Cook Islands boy, who is looking to further both his rugby and academic career.“