Rugby Scholarship

In July 2005, The Ireland Fund of New Zealand funded a schoolboy rugby scholarship with the recipient, Aidan Wynne, travelling from Co. Offaly in Ireland to New Zealand for a month long rugby and study scholarship. Aidan was chosen by the Irish Rugby Football Union as an upcoming rugby player who has played for Gallen Community School, Offaly as an out half/centre as well as for Connacht Schools during the Schoolboy Interprovincial series. His career already includes playing for the Ireland Under 18 against Italy and Scotland as well as the 2005 4-Nations International Under 18 Tournament against England and Wales. He is currently a member of the Connacht Player Academy in Ireland.

Aidan was hosted in Palmerston North and attended the Palmerston North Boys High School.

The aim of the scholarship is for an Ireland based schoolboy to travel to New Zealand to play rugby with New Zealand schoolboys and if possible to attend training sessions conducted by the All Black squad should they take place at the Rugby Academy near Palmerston North.

This year, due to the British and Irish Lions tour taking place during the Scholarship period, the Fund sponsored a ticket for Aidan to attend the Auckland All Black versus British & Irish Lions Test Match which was an unexpected highlight for Aidan’s New Zealand trip.