NZ Schools Rugby 2025
-
Looks like a very strong side, with several returnees from last year such as Angus Grover, Kingsley Uys, Isaac Fonua, Will Ross, Jonty Fowler, TJ Talaileva and Heinz Lemoto. The latter, I’ve read, will only move to Toulouse in December.
There’s also several of last year’s Australia U16s which were seemingly very highly rated in Australian rugby circles, such as Justice Taumoepau (back row), Talen Risati (first five), Hasani Bloomfield (tighthead), Taione Taka (centre), Tahj Smith (lock) and Jarryd King (fullback). For those interested, their game against the Waratahs U17s – the AU U16s coming out as victors 43 to 5 – is available on YouTube:
While certain players like Risati certainly look talented, it’s hard to gauge their level, as the Waratahs U17s didn’t look too well-organized. My main takeaway was that the U16s looked well coached and prepared. Again, it’s another sign that Rugby Australia is taking age grade rugby and the development pathways seriously in the past few years.
-
I wonder if they will pick Mika Muliaina in the Barbarians or just leave him to play NPC?
-
New Zealand Schools
Alani Fakava, Feilding High School
Christiaan Botha, Nelson College
Cody Renata, Rotorua Boys' High School
Daniel Lawrence, Liston College
Henry Hunter, King's High School
Hunter Weaver, Rotorua Boys' High School
Isireli Qaranivalu, Hastings Boys ' High School
Jacob Carter, King's College
Jake Hutchings, Rotorua Boys' High School
Jamie Viljoen, Palmerston North Boys' High School
Jimmy Taylor, Southland Boys' High School
Lautasi Etuale, St Thomas of Canterbury College
Liston Vaka’uta, Sacred Heart College, Auckland
Logan Platt, Auckland Grammar School
Luka Makata, Saint Kentigern
Marco Miln, King's College
Nehemiah Su'a, Palmerston North Boys' High School
Nico Stanley, Auckland Grammar School
Noah Rogers, Lindisfarne College
Ollie Guerin, Hamilton Boys' High School
Riley Grant-Faiva, Saint Kentigern
Rupeni Raviyawa, Feilding High School
Siale Pahulu, Saint Kentigern
Sione Katoa, Liston College
Tom Perkins, Nelson College
Triumph Voice, Hastings Boys ' High SchoolNew Zealand Barbarian Under 18
Alapati Tusa Soagia, St Peter's Cambridge
Alex Palazzo, Palmerston North Boys High School'
Boston Krone, Pakuranga RFC
Drew Berg -McLean, Napier Pirates Rugby & Sports Club
Brayden Neilson, New Plymouth Old Boys' Rugby Club
Charlie Sullivan, Sydenham Rugby Club
Corban King, Marist St Pats RFC
Elijah Solomona, St Patrick's Silverstream
Flynn Morey, St Peter's Cambridge
Harry Cornelius, Westlake Boys High School
Hunter Kennedy, Palmerston North Boys' High School
Jack Potter, Nelson College
James Tuituba, Fielding High School
Jake Hill, King's High School
Johan Schaumkell, King's College
Josh Findlay, High School Old Boys' Rugby Club, Christchurch
Junior Aukuso-Slade, Saint Kentigern
Kaiva Tulimanu, Westlake Boys’ High School
Louie Treacy, Lincoln University RFC
Mason Coulthard, Southland Boys' High School
Nathan Stephens, Hamilton Boys' High School
Nehemiah Lauvao, Hastings Boys ' High School
Peni Havea, Feilding High School
PJ Palamo, Linwood Rugby Club
Tawhiao Whitam-Tekotua, Nelson CollegeNot considered due to NPC commitments: Mika Muliana, University RFC
New Zealand Māori Under 18 Ngā Whatukura Boys
Alex Arnold, Hamilton Boys' High School (Te Āti Awa)
Ashton Savage, Northcote Rugby Football Club (Ngāti Maru - Hauraki)
Brad Meek, St Peter's Cambridge (Ngāti Porou)
Bronson van der Heyden, Rotorua Boys' High School (Ngāti Maniapoto)
Dylan Giles, Christchurch Boys' High School (Ngāti Ruanui)
Ethan Webber, Taieri Rugby Football Club (Kāi Tahu / Ngāi Tahu)
Inoke Vaingalo, Northcote Rugby Football Club (Ngāpuhi)
Izaiah Kamana, St Peter's Cambridge (Ngāti Maniapoto, Te Rarawa)
Jay Reihana, Timaru Boys' High School (Kāi Tahu / Ngāi Tahu)
Jeremiah Tuhenga-Vaitupu, King's High School (Waikato-Tainui)
Jericho Wharehinga, Napier Pirates Rugby & Sports Club (Ngāti Porou, Te Arawa)
Jesse West, St Peter's Cambridge (Ngāti Apakura, Ngāti Maniapoto)
Koen Rarere, Southland Boys' High School (Rongomāwāhine, Ngāti Kahungunu ki Te Wairoa)
Lafa Tofiga, King's High School (Ngāti Maniapoto)
Leighton Jones, Hamilton Old Boys' Rugby, Netball & Squash Club (Waikato-Tainui)
Liam Van Der Heyden, Hamilton Boys' High School (Ngāti Raukawa)
Malachi Osman, Tawa College (Ngāti Porou, Ngā Rauru)
Neihana Mata'afa, St Thomas of Canterbury College (Kāi Tahu / Ngāi Tahu)
Ngawai Amoamo, Sacred Heart College, Auckland (Te Whakatōhea, Kāi Tahu / Ngāi Tahu)
Presley McHugh, Southland Boys' High School (Ngāti Kahungunu)
Raef Robinson, Hastings Boys' High School (Ngāti Kahungunu ki Heretaunga)
Riche Stephenson, Aotea Sports Club (Rangitāne, Te Aitanga-a-Hauiti)
Rico Nicklin, Marlborough Boys' College (Ngāti Kuia, Rangitāne)
Te Ariki Rogers, Rotorua Boys' High School (Ngāti Whakaue, Te Arawa, Ngāti Pikiao, Ngāti Koro)
Tylerjay Wallace, Palmerston North Boys' High School (Kāi Tahu/Ngāi Tahu)Not considered for selection to the squads above due to injury: Cruiz Simpson, Sacred Heart College, Ethan McManemin, Tauranga Boys College.
-
Article on Jimmy Taylor's selection. A lot of belief in Southland he will be a massive talent.
-
-
He's much smaller than his brothers but doesn't lack courage. I assume Marco Miln will be the first-choice 1st 5.
Quite the assortment of schools represented in the squad, and further confirmation that the team is selected well before the Top 4.
@Bovidae said in NZ Schools Rugby 2025:
He's much smaller than his brothers but doesn't lack courage. I assume Marco Miln will be the first-choice 1st 5.
Quite the assortment of schools represented in the squad, and further confirmation that the team is selected well before the Top 4.
Taylor might need to transition to either 12 or 15 with Muliaina likely blocking his long-term path at 10 for both Southland and the Landers. I reckon he is tough enough for 12 and looks quick enough for fullback.
-
Some interesting calls across the teams. I’m guessing Marco Miln from King’s is selected as a halfback? I know he’s played first five this year but I don’t see any other 9 in the NZS team apart from Liston Vaka’uta. Like in previous years, I don’t think there’s a massive gap in quality between the 3 rep sides so the camp matches should be pretty tightly contested.
There’s again a sizable contingent of club rugby players across the NZ Barbarian U18s and Māori Under 18 Ngā Whatukura Boys, 8 with the Barbarians and 6 for the Māori U18s. There’s been a slow but steady rise in club rugby representation for NZR U18 rugby, since the eligibility criteria were changed in 2021 to include these players.
I don’t think the quality of this year’s U18 club players is as high as last year – when Micah Fale, Frazer Brown and Raharuhi Palmer would’ve easily made the NZS side in my opinion, if eligible – but a player like Jericho Wharehinga would be very close to making a combined NZ U18 side. He was very impressive for the Māori U18s last year.
As far as unlucky players are concerned, I’d say Tokoaitua Owen can probably be put into that category. Then again, there are a lot of quality 15s this year, with Etuale, Kennedy, Havea and Tofiga selected and you’d also have to say deservedly so.
-
Maybe Jamie Viljoen is an option at halfback as well?
As usual, the backline is full of midfield backs, some of who will play on the wing (again).
Here is a breakdown by competition:
North Harbour 0 players
1A 10
Super 8 8
CNI 3
Wellington 0
Miles Toyota ( Crusaders) 3 - none from the two schools that played in the final
Otago/Southland Schools 2Not being too familiar with some of the 1A players, I see that both of the Liston College players are loose forwards.
-
The lineups for the games between the Māori U18s and Chiefs U18s, and the NZ Barbarian U18s and NZ Schools.
The backline experiments from last year (Stanley at 13, Guerin and Pahulu on the wings) seem set to be continued, with Miln being named at halfback despite mostly playing first five this year. Flynn Morey also seems to be included with the NZ Schools squad so perhaps an injury replacement? Triumph Voice looks like the only name missing from the group.
I can't say that I have a great feeling about the side but I guess we'll see.
-
Both games shouldn't have been as close as they ended up. A glorious day for afternoon rugby.
The NZS named two CCs - Siale Pahulu and Jake Hutchings.
A few comments about the NZS squad looking ahead to the games against Aust U18.
- Still have problems in the scrum despite new props.
- Both hookers struggled to throw straight at times.
- Neither starting lock is that tall, nor the 6 and 7. The reserve lock (Jacob Carter) is the tallest of their locks. Both NZ Barbarian locks are taller.
- So set piece could be an issue, which will have flow-on effects for possession.
- Plenty of speed in the outside backs.
But hey, at least Tito finally won a game at this level.
spoiler -
Both games shouldn't have been as close as they ended up. A glorious day for afternoon rugby.
The NZS named two CCs - Siale Pahulu and Jake Hutchings.
A few comments about the NZS squad looking ahead to the games against Aust U18.
- Still have problems in the scrum despite new props.
- Both hookers struggled to throw straight at times.
- Neither starting lock is that tall, nor the 6 and 7. The reserve lock (Jacob Carter) is the tallest of their locks. Both NZ Barbarian locks are taller.
- So set piece could be an issue, which will have flow-on effects for possession.
- Plenty of speed in the outside backs.
But hey, at least Tito finally won a game at this level.
spoiler@Bovidae said in NZ Schools Rugby 2025:
Still have problems in the scrum despite new props.
Cody Renata isn't a loosehead prop and the issues really started when Qaranivalu went off early in the second half. Hunter didn"t fare much better there either - though Tulimanu, the Barbarian reserve tighthead, is very solid in the scrum - so I'm not sure what the play is, as far as reserve loosehead is concerned.
I thought Marco Miln was the standout player of the game, some good snipes around the ruck and clever decision-making. Jimmy Taylor was also tidy in his execution at first five, although goal-kicking will be a worry. The NZS backline still doesn't work for me: I would put Stanley at 12 and either Guerin, Pahulu or Morey at 13.
The lineout will probably be the biggest work-on. Platt and Weaver worked hard around the field but lack height. Similarly with Katoa and Lawrence, although I was impressed with the physicality and game-breaking abilities of both players.
For the Barbarians, I thought Nathan Stephens looked very threatening throughout the game, while the bench players really lifted the quality. You can easily make the argument that all of Coulthard, Solomona, Hill, Kamana and Kennedy should've started, on the basis of their play in the second half. The game might've been a bit closer throughout, if that were the case.
-
Also, Louie Treacy must be the younger brother of Xavier as they look alike. He had a bad foot injury so I don't think he will be playing the Māori. I still reckon Alex Arnold should have been in either the NZS or Barbarians team.
Flynn Morey was added to the NZS squad from the Barbarians U18s, and fellow St Peter's player Izzy Kamana from the Māori to Barbarians.
-
You can watch this game live on Rugby.com.au's YouTube channel. Aust U18s play NZ Schools next Monday.
Australia U18 v Australian Schoolboys
12pm AEST Thursday September 25
Viking Park, Canberra
