2022 Super Rugby U20s

[Stargazer]

Looking at that competition schedule, the franchise teams will only play 3 of the 6 teams (5 franchises + Barbarians).

You'd have to assume that each team that plays the Barbarians has an advantage - on the competition table - over teams that don't play the Barbarians. This was also the case, last year, wasn't it? I really hoped we'd get a full schedule, this year, with each team playing all the other 5.

[Bovidae]

At the very least each team should play the 2 teams they didn't play in 2021, which looks to be the case. Luck of the draw for the other opponent.

The 2021 schedule was:

Sunday 11 April
11am Hurricanes v Chiefs
1pm Barbarians v Highlanders
3pm Crusaders v Blues

Wednesday 14 April
11.30am Barbarians v Blues
1.30pm Hurricanes v Highlanders
3.30pm Crusaders v Chiefs

Saturday 17 April
11am Crusaders v Highlanders
1pm Barbarians v Chiefs
3pm Hurricanes v Blues

[Bovidae]

And if they do this then the Blues, Chiefs and Highlanders will all play each other, while the Barbarians, Hurricanes and Crusaders will play each other. Then it becomes Blues or Chiefs vs Hurricanes or Crusaders for their respective 3rd game.

[Stargazer]

Only just spotted that Otago/Highlanders have poached St John's (Hastings) halfback Brad Campbell. Bloody unis.

[Bovidae]

Given the competition starts next weekend you would think most teams would be playing a warm-up game this weekend. As usual, there is no promotion of any games, much less the squads.

[Stargazer]

@Bovidae It has been posted in the Hurricanes thread, but the Hurricanes U20 played a warm-up game against a Hawke's XV (last Monday), and got hammered 31 - 14. The Hurricanes only posted something a few hours before kick-off (the HBRU posted the HB XV squad the night before).

I agree with you about how poorly the promotion is. These are our future SR players, some of them will be ABs. You'd think they want people to get excited about that, and come and watch!

[Bovidae]

@Stargazer Yeah, I saw that. As an example, the Chiefs and Blues played each other last year before Taupō.

After checking the website has been updated with a fixture list.

[Bovidae]

The Chiefs and Blues don't play again. Who makes these draws?

[Stargazer]

@Bovidae Yes, they play three games. They could have changed two teams from last year.

Last year, the Chiefs played the Hurricanes, Crusaders and Barbarians. This year, the Hurricanes, Crusaders & Highlanders, so they only changed one.

I guess there are financial reasons, and work/study reasons as these players are amateurs, but playing all 5 other teams would have made the tournament so much better!

[Stargazer]

It looks like the Hurricanes U20 are playing another warm-up game this weekend; against Crusaders U20 in Blennheim.
Unfortunately it was to hard to post where in Blenheim and at what time.

hurricanesrugby: U20 | Big Friday ticked off for our U20s.

Off to Blenheim thanks to @bluebridgeferry to take on @crusadersrugbyteam U20.

#NextGen

[Bovidae]

Some obvious names missing from Waikato club rugby team lists today, who will be involved in the Chiefs U20s. I did contact Chiefs HQ to see if there was a warm-up game today, but no word back.

[Canes4life]

[Stargazer]

To include the text going with that last post:

hurricanesrugby: U20 | @crusadersrugbyteam take the win 50-45 in Blenheim

Thanks for the hit out and we’ll see you in Taupō next week.

#NextGen #CRU20vHUR20

[Canes4life]

@Stargazer odd that the Crusaders Insta posted nothing about this game, atleast the Hurricanes covered it.

[Bovidae]

The Chiefs and Blues did play today. I don't know the exact score but the Chiefs won and scored 50 odd.

[Tim]

[Canes4life]

[Bovidae]

All squads are here:

allblacks.com/assets/Bunnings-Warehouse-Super-Rugby-20s-tournament-squad-lists.pdf

[Bovidae]

The Barbarians squad looks stronger this year, and includes some players from last year's U20 teams.

[Tim]

@Bovidae A couple (Ahio, Cobb) from the 2021 Auckland NPC squad.