Te Puke Intermediate School is building on its reputation for breeding all-star All Blacks.

Set to start in 2016, the school's new rugby academy could mould four more boys into rugby icons just like former pupils Royce Willis, Tanerau Latimer, Jarred Hoeata and Nathan Harris.

Wiremu Heyblom, 13, and Rique Miln, 12, practise their ball skills, while Darren Harvey and Steve Miln watch on. Photo: Zoe Hunter.

Co-ordinated by teacher Darren Harvey and former Bay of Plenty Steamers' player and coach Steve Miln, the Te Puke Intermediate Rugby Academy is designed to give the town's rugby players a career pathway and development of lifelong knowledge and skill as an athlete.

To apply, Year 7 and 8 pupils and their families are invited to attend an information evening on Wednesday, September 9.

Darren says the academy's role is to bring a reality to the dream of becoming an All Black.

'There are video analysts, referees – you don't have to be a rugby player,” explains Darren. 'There are pathways other than just being on the rugby field.”

The academy will run three one-hour lessons per week with a maximum of 15 pupils at Te Puke Intermediate during terms 1, 2 and 3. It will also offer two scholarships to Fijian pupils at Nabua Primary School in Suva.

And just like Steve Hansen picks his boys in black, Darren and Steve will be choosing who will make the academy's team carefully.

'We want to keep it high quality and high standard,” adds Darren.

'It's for boys and girls who have a genuine drive, commitment, future aspirations and goals in rugby.

'It has to be their sport of choice on the weekends. We want to give them very definite guidance.

'We've made a three-year commitment to this and if it goes well, we could introduce netball as well.”

Steve will be focusing on building more than just a player's skills on the rugby field. He'll focus on their mental ability, nutrition, fitness, culture and education in the game.

'It's about teaching them to be good people, good athletes, good employees,” says Steve.

'Whatever job they go into they're going to turn up to work and give it 100 per cent.

'The reality is, if the kids start working really hard now and give it everything they've got, it means at age 21 they don't have any regrets.”

'I see a lot of talent but there's not a lot of substance behind that talent.

'If I can be a part of seeing the game grow and the culture change that would be the biggest reward.”

The Te Puke Intermediate Rugby Academy information evening is at Te Puke Intermediate on Wednesday, September 9 from 6pm.