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Blues star Dalton Papali'i says 1st XV schools recruitment drama 'a load of crap'

March 26, 2019

The former St Kents 1st XV captain said the school was unfairly targeted by opposing Auckland schools.

All Blacks and Blues flanker Dalton Papali'i has weighed in on the St Kentigern College 1st XV recruitment drama, saying the school has been unfairly targeted.

St Kents have resolved their issues with rival Auckland schools after announcing a truce this morning that involved all parties signing a code of conduct.

Last December, 10 schools who are involved in the Auckland 1A competition were going to boycott matches against St Kents due to their excessive recruitment of players.

St Kentigern has since agreed to not play new players for the first six rounds of this year’s competition. In addition, the two "most directly affected players" will be barred from playing in the semi-finals and finals.

"I think it is a bit of a load of crap, you know?" said Papali'i. "I love that school.

"If it wasn't for that school, I wouldn't be here. I would probably be a tradie or something.

"I owe that school a lot and it made me who I am today."

Papali'i, 21, was a former player and the captain of St Kents 1st XV.

"I think we have taken that bullet for everyone else. I think it is just because we have that winning culture there and that professionalism at a young age," Papali'i said.

"The rugby programme there is the best in the country. You go there and they teach you at a young age how to be a young man."

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