LUKA MAKATA EARNS AVS SCHOLARSHIP

Young hooker Luka Makata has been announced as this year’s AVS Scholarship recipient alongside the Blues.

Makata is head boy in his final year at St Kentigern College, where he has played the last three years of First XV rugby.

The AVS Scholarship will help Makata with the first two years of his study as he begins an engineering degree in 2026.

Makata was a senior member of the leadership group at the recent Blues U18 camp.  

Alongside his team, he was responsible for designing, implementing and driving agreed values throughout the week.

Blues Talent I.D. Manager Shane King said Makata was a top calibre young talent with a huge amount of potential on and off the field.

“Luka shows outstanding maturity on the field. He’s genuinely composed, intelligent and an outstanding leader,” King said.

“He has very good set piece skills, is a strong scrummager and competent lineout thrower. He's an abrasive ball carrier with good soft skills and is mobile around the field.”