Former Queen Victoria School student Sevu Reece scored a double for Waikato in the Ranfurly Shield challenge against Taranaki.

Waikato retained the shield after the teams drew 20-20 in Hamilton.

But a disallowed Taranaki try allowed Waikato to retain the Ranfurly Shield.

Yasawa flyer  Seta Tamanivalu might be glad to get on a plane with the All Blacks to Argentina after he all but cost Taranaki a chance of winning the shield for just the sixth time.

The big centre, who was released from the All Blacks to allow him to play in the shield game , was penalised for an illegal tackle late in the game after it appeared teenage fullback Stephen Perofeta had scored one of the greatest tries in shield history to give Taranaki what would have been a decisive lead.

Instead it was called back, Waikato went on the attack and eventually kicked a penalty to draw the match 20-20 which was enough for them to keep the shield.

Reece attended Ratu Navula College. In 2012 he was the captain of their Under-16 team who won the national title in that age group.

QVS made overtures about attaining the services of Reece and the choice to leave Ratu Navula was obvious.

“They were keen to have me and my parents thought it would be a better education so I left Ratu Navula,” Recce said in New Zealand.

“It’s a boarding school about five hours from where I lived. I really enjoyed my rugby there.

“I was the youngest in the team. It was a good season,”

The recruiting of Fijian talent is a well established practice in New Zealand First XV rugby.

The likes of Joe Rokocoko and Sitiveni Sivivatu have left an indelible mark on the game.

Meanwhile, Viliame Rarasea scored in the 30-26 win over Auckland in the Mitre 10 Cup match yesterday at Eden Park.