Maungatapu School's Rippa rugby team got a taste of world cup fever when they made it to the semi-finals of the Rippa Rugby World Cup this week.

The team, which was playing as Australia at the competition in Albany, beat Italy, Ireland, USA and Fiji – before being knocked out by New Zealand in the semis.

Logan Karauria, 10, leads by example scoring in the corner against Ireland.

Father Steve Daniel is proud of how they played as the team representing the Bay of Plenty – making it to third place out of 583 primary schools which began in regional tournaments.

'I guess if the Australian team was to be beaten it was fitting they were beaten by New Zealand,” says Steve.

Coach Neville Eades says he had been 'quietly confident” about their chances, and says the players and all the school is still buzzing from the achievement.

'The kids were absolutely wrapped with how they went and had such a great time – the rugby union put on a great event.”

Logan Karauria, 10, gets ready to draw and pass to his captain Jay Gardiner, 10, with Martin Himiona-Little, 10, outside. Meila Eades, 10, runs behind in support.

Neville says playing as Australia ended up being helpful with the supporters chants of ‘Aussie-Aussie-Aussie' on the sideline drawing lots of attention.

A highlight for the students was meeting All Blacks – including Dan Carter, John Afoa and Isaia Toeava – and being personally handed their playing kits from coach Graham Henry.

The team beat Romania in the playoffs to take third place in the world cup competition. Maungatapu beat off 40 Year 5-6 teams from the Bay of Plenty in tournaments in June to represent the region at the competition.

Maungatapu Primary School (Australia): Front Row: Hope Garner, 10, Jay Gardiner, 10, Alec Smith, 10. Middle Row: Wikura Kuka, 10, Minardi Daniel, 9, Meila Eades, 10, Logan Karauria, 10, Issac Archer, 11, Martin Little, 9. Back Row: Jo Naera, Paige Fleming, 10, Neville Eades.