SINGAPORE — Following their impressive showing at last month’s Heroes in the Making (HMP) rugby training programme, youth players Muhammad Nurhidayat Jeffrydin and Miguel Erwin Besoro William have been chosen to attend a two-week training stint in New Zealand next June.

The stint will see the duo based in Wellington, the home of Super Rugby champions the Hurricanes, where they will receive top-level coaching at the Wellington academy.

In addition, the two 15-year-olds will also get a chance to participate in competitive matches against top New Zealand youth sides, as well as witness first-hand how the All Blacks train behind closed doors.

“I’m really excited about my first trip to New Zealand,” said Nurhidayat, who plays stand-off for Damai Secondary. “I hope to watch the All Blacks over there and learn new skills to become a better player to share with my mates when I return.

“It will also be an experience playing against New Zealand youths, as I’m sure they will be very strong —and fast as well.”

William, who plays for St. Andrew’s Secondary School, said: “I am grateful to be selected for the New Zealand stint, as this will allow me to develop myself further. It wouldn’t have been possible without the support of my coaches, teachers, team-mates and family. I would like to experience how the Kiwis train and play under pressure, as I strive to become a better player.”

The two 15-year-olds were selected after impressing All Blacks Sevens legend Karl Te Nana, who put local youth players through intensive training programmes during the HMP, which aims to identify potential future Singapore national rugby sevens players.

While both Nurhidayat and William are still a few years away from representing the senior national team, it has not stopped them from already dreaming big.

“My ambition is to be able to experience playing pro rugby in other countries,” said Nurhidayat. “But the most important goal right now is to play for Singapore in the South-east Asian Games and the Asian or World Rugby series.”

William, meanwhile, hopes to one day lead Singapore to the holy grail of Sevens rugby: The Olympic Games.

“My ambition in rugby is to represent Singapore in both the sevens and 15s game,” revealed William. “To represent Singapore in the Olympics and to play in the World Sevens Series would be a dream come true.”