2018 New Zealand U20s

Stargazer

Players selected for the first NZ U20 trial camp in Palmerston-North of the year (starting 8 March 2018)

The camp begins on Thursday with a tight five clinic led by All Blacks scrum guru Mike Cron, before all players assemble for a five-day programme. Two trial teams will be selected to play Hurricanes Development and a Wellington XV on Saturday 10 March.

Philpott said this camp is an important component in building the squad.

“We had these players in camp in December for some testing and to set expectations and goals. This week we get to see how they have progressed over the summer months and really start building towards June."

The squad features several players who had been involved in the 2017 wider squad, while six players have been recognised for their performances in the New Zealand Schools’ campaign late last year.

Selected players:

Auckland (6): John Akau'ola-Laula, Rob Cobb, Waimana Riedlinger-Kapa, Ben Sa'u, Harry Plummer, Tanielu Tele'a
Bay of Plenty (5): Joe Johnson, Tevita Mafileo, Jeriah Mua, Stan van den Hoven, Kaleb Trask
Canterbury (5): Tom Christie, Will Tucker, Raymond Nu'u, Rameka Poihipi, Ngane Punivai
Counties Manukau (1): Suetena Asomua
Hawkes Bay (1): Devan Flanders
Manawatu (4): Sione Asi, Brayden Iose, Matene Ruawai, Ueta Tufuga
Northland (1): Scott Gregory
Otago (2): Ricky Jackson, Slade McDowall
Southland (2): Flynn Thomas, Jay Renton
Taranaki (4): Tom Florence, Bradley Slater, Tupou Vaa'i, Ciarahn Matoe
Ta$man (6): Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta, Sam Moli, Leicester Faingaanuku, Jack Grooby, Rupena Parkinson, Jamie Spowart
Waikato (4): Josh Kaho, Xavier Roe, Bailyn Sullivan, Quinn Tupaea
Wellington (5): Xavier Numia, Taine Plumtree, Kaliopasi Uluilakepa, Carlos Price, Billy Proctor

Not considered due to Super Rugby or Sevens commitments

Caleb Clarke (Blues)
Will Jordan (Crusaders)
Vilimoni Koroi (All Blacks Sevens)

Not considered due to injury

Hawke's Bay (3): Jacob Devery, Tim Farrell, Will Tremain
Waikato (1): Laghlan McWhannell
Bay of Plenty (1): Ajay Mua
Auckland (3): Hoskins Sotutu, Cameron Suafoa, Sione Talitui
Waikato (1): Sheldon Tovio

A further camp for the New Zealand Under 20 squad will be held in April, before taking part in the Oceania Tournament on the Gold Coast in April and May. A squad of 28 will be selected to go to the Under 20 World Championship in France from 25 May – 18 June 2017.

http://www.allblacks.com/News/32115/under-20-hopefuls-in-final-push-for-world-cup-squad-selection

Bovidae

These squads are always interesting to see where some schoolboy stars end up. A few have moved to other provinces.

I wonder how old Charles Alaimalo is? He might still be a year away from being considered for the U20s.

Stargazer

@bovidae said in 2018 New Zealand U20s:

These squads are always interesting to see where some schoolboy stars end up. A few have moved to other provinces.

I wonder how old Charles Alaimalo is? He might still be a year away from being considered for the U20s.

Is there a minimum age? There are at least 3 Hawke's Bay players, who were in NZ schools, but missing in the list to my surprise.

Bovidae

@stargazer

How old is Flanders?

IIRC they don’t tend to select many 18 yr olds, but if you good enough you are old enough.

Nepia

@bovidae said in 2018 New Zealand U20s:

@stargazer

How old is Flanders?

IIRC they don’t tend to select many 18 yr olds, but if you good enough you are old enough.

He was in NZ Secondary Schools last year so 18/19 I would assume?

Stargazer

@nepia said in 2018 New Zealand U20s:

@bovidae said in 2018 New Zealand U20s:

@stargazer

How old is Flanders?

IIRC they don’t tend to select many 18 yr olds, but if you good enough you are old enough.

He was in NZ Secondary Schools last year so 18/19 I would assume?

Flanders is 19 (DOB 04/02/1999). Lincoln McClutchie is 18 (DOB 04/12/1999).

I wonder whether there is a cut-off date somewhere in the year? Don't know the DOB of Fakatava and Toala ...

Bovidae

Not too many of the NZ schools players are in that player list to attend the U20 camp.

Stargazer

@bovidae Yeah, I wonder whether - except for the absolute best players from NZ Schools of the previous year - they are first expected to play the U19 tournament and then will be considered a year later.

Nogusta

@stargazer said in 2018 New Zealand U20s:

@bovidae Yeah, I wonder whether - except for the absolute best players from NZ Schools of the previous year - they are first expected to play the U19 tournament and then will be considered a year later.

Yep that's right. Very rare for a NZ Schools player from the previous year make the NZ U20s the next year. Recent exceptions I can think of - 2017 Caleb Clarke, 2016 Dalton Papali'i, Peter Umaga Jensen, Asafo Aumua, Alex Fidow - I'm sure there have been a few others?
Toala went to the Dec camp and was a bit off the pace fitness wise so that maybe might've counted against him? McLutchie will have to bide his time with both Harry Plummer and Ciarahn Matoe in there. Same with Fakatava as there is good depth at halfback - Carlos Price, Xavier Roe, Jay Renton. I'd say Flanders and Mua (Jeriah) would have been brought in for the selectors to have a look with the likes of Mua (AJ), Sotutu and Sione Talitui (Havili) all injured?

chchfanatic

Cullen grace has been killing it at the crusaders. Played for the knights last week. Could be a Bolter for mitre 10 Cup

Tim

http://www.aucklandrugby.co.nz/newsarticle/60597

Tim

Under 20 squad named for Oceania Rugby Championship

Forwards: <

John Akau'ola-Laula - Auckland
Suetena Asomua - Counties Manukau
Tom Christie (Captain) - Canterbury
Rob Cobb - Auckland
Devan Flanders - Hawke's Bay
Tom Florence - Taranaki
Ricky Jackson - Otago
Tevita Mafileo - Bay of Plenty
Laghlan McWhannell - Waikato
Waimana Riedlinger-Kapa - Auckland
Bradley Slater - Taranaki
Hoskins Sotutu - Auckland
Flynn Thomas - Southland
Will Tucker - Canterbury
Kaliopasi Uluilakepa - Wellington

Backs:
Leicester Faingaanuku - Ta$man
Will Jordan - Ta$man
Vilimoni Koroi - Otago
Ciarahn Matoe - Taranaki
Harry Plummer - Auckland
Carlos Price - Wellington
Billy Proctor - Wellington
Ngane Punivai - Canterbury
Jay Renton - Southland
Xavier Roe - Waikato
Bailyn Sullivan - Waikato
Tanielu Tele'a - Auckland
Kaleb Trask - Bay of Plenty

2- 3 players to be named

Players not considered due to Super Rugby commitments

Caleb Clarke - Blues

Players not considered due to injury

Tim Farrell - Hawke's Bay
Brayden Iose - Manawatu
Ajay Mua - Bay of Plenty
Xavier Numia - Wellington
Cameron Suafoa - Auckland
Sheldon Tovio - Waikato

Tevita Mafileo is Sione Mafileo's younger brother, as Billy Proctor is Mike Proctor's.

Stargazer

@tim It's a pity that Jeriah Mua didn't make it, but I assume that his situation is similar to that of a lot of last year's Hastings Boys players who are missing from the squad and that he'll also be eligible next year. Only one of them made it, Devan Flanders.

Of the 3 Hawke's Bay players that missed out, I feel most sorry for Tim Farrell, who's one of the most talented NZ props in this age group. Got injured during last year's JWC, and now again a serious injury. Jacob Devery and Will Tremain also injured, although not mentioned.

KiwiMurph

Interesting to see Koroi there.

Fitness permitting he will play

Comm Games 7s (mid April)
Oceania U20s (late April early May)
World U20s (late May)
World Cup 7s in San Francisco (July)

Plus who knows if he fits any World 7s Series round into the above calendar.

Stargazer

@kiwimurph Switching back and forth from XVs and 7s. Will be interesting to see how he'll deal with that. I'm a bit sceptical.

Bovidae

Where's Koroi likely to play? Fullback?

Nogusta

@bovidae I'd say wing with Will Jordan in there?

Bovidae

There are 3 players who can play 1st 5 (Plummer, Matoe and Trask) and some of them could also play at 2nd 5 or FB - so some versatility in the squad. I assume Faingaanuku will be on one wing.

Tim

@bovidae Yeah, Plummer has played a bit at 12 too.

Bones

Rayasi too old or not good enough?

The Silver Fern

2018 New Zealand U20s