MSP Juniors now SPC captains

The St Patrick's College 1st XV recently got their season underway and two former Marist St Pats junior players have been named as the captains. Loose forward Emilio Bell is the team's captain and halfback Max Reynolds the vice captain.

We caught up with the pair to get their reaction to their appointments. Emilio said 'it's a huge honour and a privilege. Its always something I've wanted to do and I've always admired the captains of previous years, especially with my father (John Bell) being an old boy of the school and player for the 1st XV. Its a huge honour to captain in my last year at St Pat's.

Max echoed his captain's sentiment in feeling the 'privilege to represent such a proud rugby school.'

Both players have been involved in the 1st XV prior to year 13; on the season's prospects Max said 'it's a really young team, but everyone has the heart to go to the finals.'

Emilio agreed, 'still plenty of games to go, just need to keep building and stay together. The main thing is to make our school and families proud.'

No doubt their families will be proud of their leadership positions. Having both cut their teeth on the rugby field as juniors at Marist St Pats, we asked about the influence this has had on their game.

Emilio: 'It's always been a good place to go back to, I'll definitely be going back when I finish school. The Juniors taught me how to play the game and gave me a love of rugby.

Nic Fits was my coach and made the change for me to move from the midfield to the loose forwards. I was constantly at the rucks and making turnovers.'

The feeling was again similiar for Max, 'MSP taught me how to play the game, gave me real confidence to play my game. I still go down to support MSP on a Saturday afternoon when I can.'

After a tough start to the Wellington 1st XV Premiership, going down to Wellington College, the side has rebounded with consecutive victories over Wairarapa College and Scots College. The latter a big 44-7 win last weekend - which was backed up by a win over St John's, Christchurch in their traditional match earlier this week. The team host Paraparaumu College this Saturday.

Marist St Pats is proud to support the St Patrick's College team, providing equipment and coaching to their training camp in the last holidays and as sponsors of the team's drink bottles.


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