World Footy News

Hawthorn added a new name to the list of young Kiwis that it has identified as potential AFL footballers last week in NZ.  15-year-old Siope Ngata is the newest  international scholarship holder listed by Hawthorn.

Ngata was identified by the Hawks last October at a testing session and playing in games for the New Zealand Hawks.  Like most Kiwi kids he has experience in rugby.

At the New Zealand AFL Combine held last week, the 186cm and 98kg prospect performed strongly in the athletic testing and in the kicking and clean hands drills.

He joins Ben Miller, Shem Tatupu, Kurt Heatherley and Rhys Panui Leth who have all been given international scholarships by Hawthorn (it is beleived Panui Leth is not longer a scholarship holder).

Recruiting manager Graham Wright said "At this stage Siope will stay in New Zealand [instead of coming to Australia full-time]. Invariably we'll monitor his progress over the next year or two and he'll be involved in our development programs here."

For more see the Hawthorn website  here.