2021 New Zealand U20s
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@stargazer The Blues have named an exciting and talent-laden squad for the Sky Super Rugby Aotearoa Under-20 tournament starting in Taupo on Sunday.
The 28-strong Ganellen Blues Under-20s will play three games at the tournament, starting with the Crusaders on Sunday with further games against a Barbarians side and final clash against the Hurricanes.
The team is coached by the Blues Wilsher Scholarship recipient, Steven Bates with assistants Gus Leger and Dan Bowden.
It includes two members of the Blues Super Rugby team in hooker Soane Vikena, last year’s Blues Development player of the year, and outside back Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, a member of the All Blacks Sevens squad last year. Both will be available for the opening game on Sunday while the Blues are on bye week.
The side is laden with leaders with hooker Ray Sua, former captain at Kelston Boys; Leandro Vakatini captained Kings; Chlayton Frans was captain of Westlake Boys while fellow loosies Cam Church and Will Bason were rugby captain and head boy respectively at St Kents.
A number of players have earned national school selection including hooker Hanz Leota (Auckland), locks James Brown (Auckland) and Allan Craig (Northland); loose forward Vaiolini Ekuasi, who was in the Auckland Mitre-10 Cup squad this year; halfback Manu Paea, first five Christian Stenhouse, and midfielder Meihana Grindlay, while fellow midfielder Corey Evans was in the Wider national under-20 squad 2020.
There are players with strong family links to sporting success including Auckland prop Josh Fusitua, a brother of Warriors player David Fusitua and loose forward Wallace Sititi (Auckland), whose father Semo played in the Rugby World Cup for Manu Samoa.
Others multi-sporting talents in their background including captain Cam Church, a competitive age-group swimmer, Bason was a water polo prospect and midfielder Sage Shaw-Tait was part of the Tuatara pro baseball squad.
They warmed up with a 26-12 win over the Chiefs before final preparations for Taupo.
The Ganellen Blues U20s will play the Crusaders at 3pm on Sunday 11 April; the Barbarians at 11.30am on Wednesday 14 April and the Hurricanes at 3pm on Saturday 17 April.
All games will be live on Sky Television.
The team is:
Hooker: Soane Vikena (Blues), Ray Sua (Auckland), Hanz Leota (Auckland); Prop: Leandro Vakatini (Auckland), Josh Fusitua (Auckland), Esile Fono (Northland), Sione Ahio (Auckland), Ryan Mead (North Harbour); Lock: James Brown (Auckland), Allan Craig (Northland), Josh Beehre (Auckland); Loose forward: Wallace Sititi (Auckland), Chlayton Frans (North Harbour), Cam Church (Auckland, Captain), Will Bason (Auckland), Jordan Hutchings (Auckland); No 8: Vaiolini Ekuasi (Auckland); Halfback: Manu Paea (Auckland), Dayton Iobu (Auckland); First five: Christian Stenhouse (Auckland), Jock McKenzie (Auckland); Midfield: Meihana Grindlay (Auckland), Corey Evans (Auckland), Sage Shaw-Tait (Auckland); Wing: Joel Cobb (Auckland), Ryan Nankivell (Auckland); Fullback: Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens (Blues), Sofai Maka (Auckland).
Coaches: Steven Bates, Gus Leger, Dan Bowden.
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@higgins said in 2021 New Zealand U20s:
@bovidae Don't look to be many non Otago players in that Highlanders lot, one (the Blues player) and possibly two (the Marist player) look to be about it.
And Fabian Holland originally from CHCH BOYS HIGH
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@bovidae said in 2021 New Zealand U20s:
The Blues will have the strongest squad on paper so it will be interesting to see who is in their top XV. Their game against the Crusaders promises to be a must-see.
Yeah the Crusaders side is pretty strong 18 players selected for NZ schools and NZ Barbarians in 2020. And 2019.
NZ SCHOOLS
Fletcher Anderson Christ's College
James Mullan Rangiora High School
Monu Moli Marlborough Boys' High SchoolNZ BARBARIANS
Jone Rova2019 NZ SCHOOLS
Zach Gallagher – captain Christ’s College
Anton Segner - Nelson College
Max Hughes - Christchurch Boy’s High School
Wil Gualter - Lincoln High School
Jack Sexton - St Andrew’s College
Seb Calder - St Andrew’s College
.Dom Gardiner - St Bede’s College.
Corey Kellow - Sacred Heart College
Ollie Lewis - Christchurch Boys’ High School
Blair Murray - New Plymouth Boys’ High School2019 NZ BARBARIANS
George Bell - John McGlashan College
Taya Brown - Nelson College
Brian Leali’ifano - Sacred Heart College -
@higgins Yeah, I think only those 2 from Southland. Otago have recruited 2 from Hamilton BHS, Harrison Press went to Hutt International HS (2019 NZ Barbarian Schools team).
@Chris Jermaine Pepe is ex-Rangiora HS, also in the 2019 NZ Barbarian Schools team.
There may be others but those are the players I am familiar with.
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Hurricanes Under 20 Preview
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Here is the final Chiefs U20 squad. No fancy graphic.
2021 University of Waikato Chiefs Under 20s:
Ben Strang (Waikato)
Bernie Hati (Bay of Plenty)
Curtis Palmer (Bay of Plenty)
Daniel Sinkinson (Waikato)
Gideon Wrampling (Waikato)
Hakaria Richards-Coxhead (Waikato)
Havila Molia (Waikato)
Hemopo Cunningham (Taranaki)
Ioane Moananu (Counties Manukau)
Jadin Kingi (Counties Manukau)
Jona Mataiciwa (Bay of Plenty)
Josh Bartlett (Bay of Plenty)
Josh Jacomb (Taranaki)
Kane O’Connor (Bay of Plenty)
Larenz Tupaea Thomsen (Counties Manukau)
Latrell Smiler-Ah Kiong (Waikato)
Lucas Cashmore (Bay of Plenty)
Mason Tupaea (Waikato)
Melino Fotu (Bay of Plenty)
Nikora Broughton (Bay of Plenty)
Niwa Barlow (Taranaki)
Scott Jury (Taranaki)
Tama Te Aute (Bay of Plenty)
Te Paea Cook-Savage (Waikato)
Te Rama Reuben (Waikato)
Tevita Ofa (Counties Manukau)
Thor Manase (Counties Manukau)
Tu'ukalikali Vaipulu (Bay of Plenty)
Veveni Lasaqa (Bay of Plenty)Bay Of Plenty 11
Counties Manukau 5
Taranaki 4
Waikato 9
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Has anyone seen the Barbarians squad? @Stargazer
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@bovidae Edited to say that I just found it:
Barbarians U20:
Trinity McQueen (Thames Valley)
Mateo Taiseni (Waikato)
Troy McIvor (Hawkes Bay)
Jamie Hannah (Canterbury) captain
Harrison Morton (Otago)
Taylor Dale (Otago)
Josh Hopkins (Taranaki)
George Methven (Canterbury)
Ben Fuhiniu –(North Harbour)
Jack Parker (Canterbury)
Isi Saumaki ( Ta$man)
Louis Bartley - Saena (Auckland)
Dom Clarke (Canterbury)
Levi Helleur-Atiga (North Otago)
Theo van der Mei (North Harbour)
Bryn Gordon (Manawatu)
Arana Miller (Bay of Plenty)
Vincent Green (Waikato)
Viliami Napa'a ( Ta$man)
Elyjah Crosswell (Manawatu)
Joel Lam (Canterbury) vice captain
Jackson Rainsford (North Harbour) vice captain
Quinton Nichols (Auckland)
Rona Tuiali'I (Auckland)
Rowan Slater (Taranaki)
Jack Robertson (North Harbour) -
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@arhs said in 2021 New Zealand U20s:
@bovidae where is Melino Fotu playing. Tried to convert him from a winger to a loosie in junior rugby as he was brilliant ball pilferer in the tackle. Is he a number eight now?
I have seen about half of the Chiefs squad play at schoolboy level so know what positions they play, but Fotu isn't one of them. Te Rama Reuben will likely be the starting no.8.
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Just seen this:
University of Waikato Chiefs Under 20 Team:
- Josh Bartlett (Bay of Plenty)
- Bernie Hati (Bay of Plenty)
- Havila Molia (Waikato)
- Tu’ukalikali Vaipulu (Bay of Plenty)
- Scott Jury (Taranaki)
- Nikora Broughten (Bay of Plenty)
- Veveni Lasaqa (Bay of Plenty)
- Te Rama Reuben (Waikato)
- Ben Strang (Waikato)
- Lucas Cashmore (Bay of Plenty)
- Niwa Barlow (Taranaki)
- Larenz Tupaea Thompsen (Counties Manukau)
- Gideon Wrampling (Waikato) ©
- Tevita Ofa (Counties Manukau)
- Te Paea Cook Savage (Waikato)
Reserves:
16. Ioane Moananu (Counties Manukau)
17. Mason Tupaea (Waikato)
18. Hakaraia Richards Coxhead (Waikato)
19. Hemopo Cunningham (Taranaki)
20. Melino Fotu (Bay of Plenty)
21. Kane O’Connor (Bay of Plenty)
22. Josh Jacomb (Taranaki)
23. Jona Mataiciwa (Bay of Plenty)
