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Sport | Chiefs

Young Māori highly sought after by rugby and league scouts

It's that time of year when the scouts are out, scanning the width and breadth of the country, searching for the freshest young rugby and league talent coming through the ranks, and it seems there is never any shortage of star potential.

At just 15 years old, Fabien Kiri caught the eye of NRL club, the Warriors, and signed a four-year deal with them.

Now that he's 16 years old, this Palmerston North Boys High student still has to wait one more year before he can move into their development system next year.

"It was after the NZ Rugby League camp in Rotorua.  I got a call that same night saying they're interested in me," says Fabien Kiri.

He's not the only one who is chasing his professional sporting dreams.

17-year-old Napier Boys student, Jordan Pineaha, is on the Chiefs' radar.

He's making the move to Waikato next year to chase his rugby dreams of getting 100 playing caps in first grade rugby, and perhaps even making the All Blacks one day.