2019 Māori All Blacks

[Nepia]

@Stargazer said in 2019 Māori All Blacks:

I'm also keen to find out who are in the NZ Māori U20 squad, but I guess that team will be named later. They can't possibly name a Māori squad from this year's NZ U20 squad or even the players invited to the NZ U20s camps. Will they invite younger players from last year's NZ Schools, NZ Barbarians Schools and NZ Māori U18, or will they be allowed to select youngish players just over 20?

I’m assuming they can find 26 odd U20 Maori players for the team throughout the country - I don’t think they all have to be in line for NZ U20s.

[Nepia]

@taniwharugby said in 2019 Māori All Blacks:

@Nepia guess Hyland got there by virtue of more productive minutes on the park....

I might probably not a good judge on his form - I couldn’t even remember which Super team he played for.

[Stargazer]

@Nepia I think looking at the players of the 2018 school squads - who will be 19 by now - and the U20s teams of the SR franchises would be the right approach. We'll see which players make it. If they can be bothered to announce the team at all.

[Yeetyaah]

@Stargazer Nathan Harris Waikato? He's a steamer though. Surely he isn't moving.

[Bovidae]

@Yeetyaah said in 2019 Māori All Blacks:

@Stargazer Nathan Harris Waikato? He's a steamer though. Surely he isn't moving.

Good question. I doubt he was expecting to be playing any provincial rugby.

[Stargazer]

@Yeetyaah Yeah, I noticed that, too. Odd.

[Nepia]

It might be a misprint - the Waikato night have supposed to go in the iwi section.

[Bovidae]

@Nepia said in 2019 Māori All Blacks:

It might be a misprint - the Waikato night have supposed to go in the iwi section.

Yes.

Waikato rugby has only acknowledged the selection of Fletcher Smith.

[pakman]

Usual Suspects. Nursery for FAB locks?

[ACT Crusader]

@Bovidae said in 2019 Māori All Blacks:

If Ash Dixon is still the captain I will be interested in how McMillan gives meaningful minutes to Harris. One start each maybe?

Dixon was captain last year and Abel still got plenty of minutes and even a start if I recall.

[Stargazer]

Māori All Blacks Memories: 2010

[Bovidae]

@Stargazer I was at that game. I remember all the numbers falling off the new NZM jerseys.

[Bones]

@Stargazer geez how much bigger was Aaron Smith back then?

Not sure Robbie Robinson should have been named at loosehead.

[Stargazer]

Māori U20 squad:

Kershawl Sykes-Martin
Nelson Rugby Club
Ngāti Porou

Te Ariki Te Puni
University RFC Auckland
Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Porou, Rangitāne o Manawatu
Ngāi Te Rangi

Jonas Pomare
Mt Maunganui Sports Club
Ngāpuhi

*Poukohe Sorensen
Te Puna RFC
Te Arawa, Ngāti Porou

Tyrone Thompson
Marist St Pats
Ngai Tā Manuhiri, Ngāti Rangiwewehi

Tanara Haenga
Wainuiomata RFC
Ngāti Porou

Josh Hill
University of Otago RFC
Ngāi Tahu

Leo Ngatai-Tafau
Ardmore Marist RFC
Ngāti Porou, Tainui

Keelan Whitman
Marist St Pats
Ngāti Rangiwewehi

*Cortez-Lee Ratima
Otorohonga RFC
Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Tama

Leo Thompson
Marist St Pats
Ngai Tā Manuhiri, Ngāti Rangiwewehi

Shamus Hurley-Langton
College Old Boys Wellington
Te Āti Awa, Taranaki

Samuel Smith
Wainuiomata RFC
Ngāti Raukawa, Ngati Kahungunu

Coel Kerr
Lincoln University RFC
Ngāti Ranginui

John Croft Cooper
Ponsonby District RFC
Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngā Puhi, Tūwharetoa

Kaipo Brown
Tauranga Rugby Sports & Recreation Club
Te Aupōuri, Te Arawa, Tainui, Ngāi Te Rangi, Te Āti Awa

Dennon Robinson-Bartlett
Whakarewarewa Community Sports Club
Ngāti Kahungunu

Tamarau McGahan
Marist North Harbour
Ngāi Tūhoe, Ngāti Raukawa

Tobias Wickham-Manuel
Kia Toa RFC
Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Tūwharetoa

Tahu Kaa
Lincoln University RFC
Ngāti Porou, Ngāi Tahu

Zarn Sullivan
College Rifles RFC
Ngāti Kahungunu

Isaac Bracewell
Wellington Football Club
Ngāti Maniapoto

Callum Bean
Grammar Tec Auckland
Ngai Tahu, Ngā Puhi

*Availability subject to Club Commitments

Coaches and management:

Head Coach
Rua Wanoa
Ngāti Porou

Forwards Coach
Anthony Rehutai
Ngāti Porou

Forwards Assistant
Tracey Davis
Ngāti Whātua

Backs Coach
Stacey Grant
Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa

Backs Assistant
Joseph Wineera
Ngāti Ruanui, Ngāti Toa, Ngāti Koata, Ngāi Tahu

Cultural Advisor
Mihaere Emery
Tūhoe, Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Koroki Kahukura, Ngāti Raukawa

Mark Seymour
Manager
Ngāti Hikairo

Kieran Te Whare
Trainer
Ngati Tūwharetoa

Tioke Pryor
Physio
Ngāi Tuhoe. Ngāti Awa, Ngāi Te Rangi

Tiki Edwards
Campaign Manager
Whakatōhea, Ngāti Raukawa

[Stargazer]

Not a single player from this year's NZU20s. I wonder why?
I recognise names from 2018 NZ Schools, NZ Schools Barbarians and NZ Māori U18.

[gt12]

@Stargazer

If the strategy is getting exposure for lots of players to potentially develop future super players, that seems understandable. Others had opportunities, so use this team to give others a go?

[Stargazer]

@gt12 Yeah, maybe. I was thinking it might be an early trial for the NZU20 development camps later in the year. I assume many of these players will also play at the Jock Hobbs U19 tournament in September and some maybe even Mitre 10 Cup.

[Bovidae]

Have the Thompson brothers been poached by Wellington or studying there?

[Stargazer]

@Bovidae said in 2019 Māori All Blacks:

Have the Thompson brothers been poached by Wellington or studying there?

Wellington offered more money than the Bay could afford (I have it from a reliable source). Also, their dad played for Marist St Pat's, so that has probably been a factor, too.

They're both building apprentices, something they could have been in the Bay as well.

So, I call them poached. (Others will argue that they just wanted to play for Wellington, but I'm not buying that ).

[Bones]

@Stargazer who is their dad?