2018 New Zealand Schools

[Stargazer]

The NZ Schools and NZ Barbarians Schools squads have been selected.

New Zealand Schools
Iona Apineru - St Patrick's College - Silverstream (lock)
Louie Chapman - Christchurch Boys' High School (halfback)
Sam Darry - Christ's College (lock, apparently already over 2m tall last year)
Chay Fihaki - Sacred Heart College (first five-eighth)
Taufa Funaki - Sacred Heart College (halfback)
Matt Graham-Williams - St Kentigern College (prop, TH?)
Niko Jones - St Peter's College (loose forward)
Jacob Kneepkens - Francis Douglas Memorial College (first five-eighth? Played for 2017 NZ Fiji Schools 7s)
Joshua Lord - Hamilton Boys' High School (lock)
Josiah Maraku - Feilding High School (centre)
Thomas Martin - Hamilton Boys' High School (blindside flanker)
Saula Mau - Auckland Grammar School (according to google, he's a big lump of a TH prop, around 140kg?)
Blair Murray - New Plymouth Boys' High School (fullback)
Simon Parker - St Peter's School - Cambridge (lock/loosie)
George Prain - Rangiora High School (loose forward)
Isaiah Punivai - St Kentigern College (utility back, brother of Ngane)
Rivez Reihana - St Kentigern College (first five-eighth)
Anton Segner - Nelson College (loose forward, no. 8 )
Zarn Sullivan - King's College (first five-eighth, brother of Bailyn)
Tiaan Tauakipulu - St Kentigern College (prop)
Patrick Thacker - Christ's College (prop)
Tyrone Thompson - Napier Boys' High School (hooker)
Soane Vikena - Mt Albert Grammar School (loose forward??)
Ethan Webster-Nonu - Scots College (wing)
Tamaiti Williams - St Kentigern College (prop)
Gideon Wrampling - St Paul's Collegiate (midfielder, on greenandgoldrugby site described as poached by the Chiefs from the Reds)

The New Zealand Schools’ and New Zealand Schools’ Barbarians teams have today been selected for their 2018 campaigns. Players have been selected after three days in a development camp at Massey University’s Sport & Rugby Institute in Palmerston North.

New Zealand Schools’ Rugby Union chairman Garry Chronican named the New Zealand Schools’ team which features nine players from last year’s Schools' programme.

Coach Brad Mooar said the quality of players at this week's camp had been exceptional which made for a tough task in selecting the team.

"The selectors did a really great job in getting such a strong group of players together who have really embraced the last few days and made for an energising and positive environment.

"We have a few returning players which is good but these young men have bonded very quickly, its a tight group of players already and we hope this campaign will be the best rugby experience that they have had," said Mooar.

.

New Zealand Barbarians Schools
Arthur Allen - Christ's College
James Arscott - Otago Boys' High School
Caleb Cavubati - Scots College
Stewart Cruden - Palmerston North Boys' High School
Corey Evans - Auckland Grammar School
Zach Gallagher - Christ's College
Josh Gimblett - Napier Boys' High School
Lukas Halls - King's College
Tahu Kaa - Christchurch Boys' High School
Benet Kumeroa - Auckland Grammar School
Peni Lasaqa - St Kentigern College
Mahonri Ngakuru - St Kentigern College
Jacob Payne - Southland Boys' High School
Noah Perelini - King's College
Robert Rush - St Kentigern College
SamSmith - Wairarapa College
Roderick Solo - Scots College
Ropati So'oalo - Aotea College
Poukohe Sorenson - Rotorua Boys High School
Kristian Standen - New Plymouth Boys' High School
Patrick Teddy - Napier Boys' High School
Junior Uelese - Scots College
Keelan Whitman - St Patrick's College - Wellington

https://www.collegesportmedia.co.nz/rugby-union/nz-schools-and-nz-schools-barbarians-teams-named

[Stargazer]

Just noticing that of the 53 players invited to camp, 26 have been selected for NZ Schools, and only 23 for NZ Barbarians Schools. Which means that 4 players have not been selected at all. One of them is flanker Liam Udy-Johns from Hastings BHS. I haven't checked who the other three are. I'd be interested to know why these four players are not in the Barbarians squad. 23 players doesn't seem enough for two games, with the risk of injuries. Are they injured? Not wanted? Or maybe just a mistake in copying the list to the website (wouldn't be the first time on this website)?

[Bovidae]

It would be good to get a breakdown by position for the squads.

[Stargazer]

@bovidae I'll try adding the positions to the list later today.

[Bovidae]

@stargazer Just commenting that official lists of squads in alphabetical order isn't helpful if you aren't familiar with the players.

I have seen most of the Chiefs region players play so know about them but not those from the SI or Auckland/Wellington.

[98blueandgold]

Front row. Tamati Williams, Saula Mau, Tyrone Thompson.

Looks strong front row, Thompson been in great form this year, Williams was NZ Schools last year, Mau Barbarians. Thacker in rotation was barbarians last year also.

Locks
Good to see some timber but also ball runners/players. Darry and Lord will start, both 2m plus easy. They went head-to-head when chiefs-crusaders played earlier in year. Darry is someone I have seen since he was 13, thought then he could be AB in future. pretty sure his mum is ABs nutritionist.

Loosies

Jones future is at 7, plays like dad but will interesting to see if he plays there for this team. Have seen a lot of Segner, year 12 here on scholarship from Germany (interesting) 6,3 100kg hard man. Parker should start at 6.

9
Funaki is a runner and the incumbent form last year with Chapman backing him up unless they want the passing ability of Chapman

10
Reihana the incumbent from last year also.

Midfield
Punivai - Incumbent fro last year, better than his older brother should be teamed with Maraku who is a bit of a weapon

not actually sure of back three, haven't seen much of these guys but should be interesting. Might be proven wrong in long term but think this is one of the better tight 5s I have seen from schools with an establish 9-13 combo. should go ok.

[Higgins]

St Kentigans have, by my quick count, eight players in the two squads listed above. There must be a lot of hand wringing and finger pointing going on amongst their officials as to why they were unable to win the 1As given their riches in talent available to them. There might be a number of rival 1st XV coaches looking nervously at their penciled in squads for next season to see if there are going to be any late defections/unavailabilities.

[Bovidae]

98blueandgold said:

Locks
Good to see some timber but also ball runners/players. Darry and Lord will start, both 2m plus easy. They went head-to-head when chiefs-crusaders played earlier in year.

I was at that game. I didn't think Darry looked that tall next to Lord. Neither Chiefs hooker could find their target which didn't help. Tom Martin was the other Chiefs lock although better suited to 6 as he isn't as tall as the others.

[mimic]

Higgins said:

St Kentigans have, by my quick count, eight players in the two squads listed above. There must be a lot of hand wringing and finger pointing going on amongst their officials as to why they were unable to win the 1As given their riches in talent available to them. There might be a number of rival 1st XV coaches looking nervously at their penciled in squads for next season to see if there are going to be any late defections/unavailabilities.

The team they lost to went on to win the Nationals. Just goes to show how tough the Auckland 1A comp is.

Also, how the hell are Auckland getting all these first fives into the NZ Schools team? I thought we only produced loosies and outside backs.

[98blueandgold]

@bovidae gauranteed he is, lord must just be even taller!!

[Bovidae]

@98blueandgold Just an observation, but obviously not a fact.

So who is the likely captain of the NZ Schools. It should be one of the U18 captains. For the Chiefs, the co-captains were Reihana and Parker. What about the other 4 teams?

[Stargazer]

@bovidae I don't know who the Hurricanes U18 captain was, but it could be Tyrone Thompson who was the Napier Boys captain. He's a very good leader.

[98blueandgold]

Prob Reihana I think

[Bovidae]

Speaking of which, there must be another hooker in the NZS squad.

[Stargazer]

@bovidae Maybe one of the players that I saw mentioned as a prop, is (also) a hooker?

[chchfanatic]

@higgins at least 3 of them have signed with the crusaders too.

[Higgins]

chchfanatic said:

@higgins at least 3 of them have signed with the crusaders too.

Probably come from Christchurch in the first place!

[chchfanatic]

I know punivai is definitely from chch. I don’t think the other 2 are though.

[Stargazer]

New Zealand Schools team to play Tonga Schools (Brisbane, 4pm NZT):

1 Tamaiti Williams (St Kentigern College)
2 Soane Vikena (Mt Albert Grammar School)
3 Saula Mau (Auckland Grammar School)
4 Thomas Martin (Hamilton Boys' High)
5 Josh Lord (Hamilton Boys' High)
6 Iona Apineru (St Partick's College - Silverstream) - vice-captain
7 Anton Segner (Nelson College)
8 Niko Jones (St Peter's College)
9 Taufa Funaki (Sacred Heart College)
10 Rivez Reihana (St Kentigern College) - vice-captain
11 Josiah Maraku Feilding (Agricultural High School)
12 Gideon Wrampling (St Paul's Collegiate)
13 Isaiah Punivai (St Kentigern College) - captain
14 Ethan Webster-Nonu (Scots College)
15 Blair Murray (New Plymouth Boys' High School)

16 Tyrone Thompson (Napier Boys' High School)
17 Matt Graham-Williams (St Kentigern College)
18 Tiaan Tauakipulu (St Kentigern College)
19 Simon Parker (St Peter's School)
20 George Prain (Rangiora High School)
21 Louie Chapman (Christchurch Boys' High School)
22 Zarn Sullivan (King's College)
23 Chay Fihaki (Sacred Heart College)

[Stargazer]

New Zealand Barbarians Schools team to play NZ Māori U18 (2.00pm NZT at Porirua Park, Porirua):

1 Poukohe Sorenson (Rotorua Boys’ High School)
2 Arther Allen (Christ's College)
3 Patrick Teddy (Napier Boys' High School)
4 Robert Rush (St Kentigern College)
5 Zachary Gallagher (Christ's College)
6 Samuel Smith (Wairarapa College)
7 Noah Perelini (King's College)
8 Keelan Whitman (St Patrick's College)
9 James Arscott (Otago Boys' High School)
10 Stewart Cruden (Palmerston North Boys' High School)
11 Caleb Cavubati (Scots College)
12 Corey Evans (Auckland Grammar School)
13 Lukas Halls (King's College)
14 Roderick Solo (Scots College)
15 Peniasi Lasaqa (St Kentigern College)

16 Jacob Payne (Southland Boys' High School)
17 Benet Kumeroa (Auckland Grammar School)
18 Ovaleni Uelese (Scots College)
19 Mahonri Ngakuru (St Kentigern College)
20 Joshua Gimblett (Napier Boys' High School)
21 Kristian Standen (New Plymouth Boys' High School)
22 Tahu Kaa (Christchurch Boys' High School)
23 Ropati So'oalo (Aotea College)