A 15-year-old Tongan youngster from New Zealand has been recruited by a major AFL Club to play “Aussie Rules” football.

Siope Ngata from South Auckland was awarded a scholarship by the Melbourne based Hawthorn Hawks, which will require him to undertake training with Hawthorn development staff and to participate in AFLNZ programs while in New Zealand.

According to a media release from the Hawthorne Hawks, Siope is excited and grateful for the opportunity.

“I’m looking forward to learning new skills and continuing my development through AFLNZ and Hawthorn programs,” he said.

While Aussie Rules Football is not a popular sport in New Zealand and an uncommon choice among Tongans generally, the AFL Club says that it is strengthening its commitment to an “untapped resource in uncovering talent”.

Recruiting and List Manager Graham Wright for the Hawthorn Hawks said, “Other clubs might go to Ireland and America and look for athletes but we feel it [New Zealand] suits us, we’re able to develop them when they’re younger, teach them the game and they get an idea of the game”.

Wright says that New Zealand has invaluable human resource for Aussie Rules Football.

“From our point of view it’s the body shape and athleticism that really lends itself (to AFL)….and they’re generally pretty tough, they like the physical contact….It’s amazing how that rugby group of players have great evasive skills and all those sorts of things that come into it.”

“We’ve put that development program in place that can potentially progress them a lot quicker and getting them to a stage that when they’re 18, they have a real chance”

In the last few years, Aussies Rules Football has been developed extensively in Tonga. In 2012 there were two Tongans playing in the AFL.