Schools out for Kianu Kereru-Symes but the up-and-coming prop will be learning plenty both on and off the field in 2018.

Kianu is one of five youngsters signed by HB Rugby from Hastings Boys’ High School and the all-conquering first fifteen and he’s ready for the step up. Although he’s enjoying his summer holidays Kianu is focused on a big 2018 season as well as taking up study at EIT, where he will be doing a course in sport and recreation.

“My big goal is to play for the Magpies in 2018, whether that’s one game or many more. I really want to take my game to the next level and that’s to play senior representative rugby as well as get selected for the New Zealand under 20s.

Kianu is joining his school team mates of Danny Toala, Folau Fakatava, Devan Flanders and Lincoln McClutchie.

They will rejoin their former HBHS coach Mark Ozich, who was recently named the head coach for 2018.

Kianu is looking forward to again being coached by Mark or ‘Mr Ozich’ has the players would have called him at school.

“He certainly knows his stuff, we all have a great relationship with him but we will be expecting it to be a little bit different to he coached us at school.