Hundreds of secondary school students are chasing sporting glory this week at a National competition.

They've travelled from near and far for the 4 day multi-sport event, held this year in Dunedin.

But it's not just the usual games on offer.

South African Rob Walter has been appointed head coach of the Otago Volts for the next two seasons.

He takes over the side from current coach Nathan King, who resigned midway through his contract following a disappointing season.

The move will see Walter leave his job as coach of top-level South African cricket franchise the Titans.

Otago Cricket chief executive Mike Coggan says he's pleased to have secured Walter after a worldwide recruitment search.

Walter will begin his employment with Otago Cricket at the start of September.

A friendly ice hockey game has helped mark two important occasions for the city's ex-pat population.

Players took to the ice to assert their sporting dominance, to celebrate both Canada Day and US Independence Day.

And it was a game that came right down to the wire.

Auckland Blues player Tevita Li has signed with the Highlanders for the 2017 season.

The young winger will follow in the footsteps of former Blues converts Waisake Naholo and Malakai Fekitoa.

Highlanders CEO Roger Clark says while luring players to the deep south wasn't easy a few years ago, players are now seeing the side as an attractive franchise.

He's confident the shift will work well for Li and provide him with the opportunities he's looking for to further his rugby career.

A former All Blacks coach is in town, giving Dunedin high school students a talk on sport science.

Sir Graham Henry is here for the New Zealand International Science Festival to preach the importance of science in high performance sport.

And residents can see his work being put to use in the All Blacks' upcoming test match.

Jamie Joseph is starting some of his lesser known players for the Highlanders' friendly with the Crusaders in Oamaru.

The team currently has nine players on international duty for New Zealand, Fiji and Japan.

As a result Joseph has named a number of replacement provincial players for tomorrow's game.

He says the situation isn't unique to the Otago side, with several other teams facing similar line-up decisions.

The friendly game will mark the Highlanders debut for halfbacks Te Aihe Toma and Jamie Booth.

Jospeh hopes the match will serve as a good build up for the team ahead of games in both South Africa and Argentina.

Three Otago cricket players have made the cut for the coming seasons' Black Caps squad.

New Zealand Cricket has confirmed 21 contracted players, an increase on last year's 20.

Otago Volts Mark Craig, James Neesham and Neil Wagner all got the call up for the team, which remains largely unchanged from last season.

However the departures of Brendon and Nathan McCullum, as well as Grant Elliot, left space for some fresh talent.

The new line up also features four new players, including the maiden appearances of Henry Nicholls and George Worker.