2023 Super Rugby U20s

[SouthernMann]

@Stargazer said in 2023 Super Rugby U20s:

@SouthernMann Hard to say at this age. They've all been in Hurricanes U18. Ratcliffe was the Māori U18 captain, last year. All have played HB age grade rugby. That's no guarantee for a step up.

Mefi Tupou played mostly on the wing for Hastings Boys', but moved to the midfield after leaving school. Can be quite a devastating ball runner, but whether he can do that at NPC level and above? It was enough for NZ U19 selection, so that could be a good sign.

Of this group of 4, I have the highest expectations of Max Ratcliffe, who's an excellent leader as well.

Hopefully Ratcliffe can be as good as you think. Then, we will be developing a good group of loosies with Michaels, Withy, Broughton, Haig, himself and some of the more experienced guys with time left. I'm hoping we will be able to land some decent midfielders and back three players. It is where we are really lacking. I expect one of Millar of Faleafaga should have a decent future at 10.

[Stargazer]

@SouthernMann I hope so, too. No guarantees that a player who's good at 1st XV and age grade level will also be good at a higher level.

[Bovidae]

Relevant to this tournament. The Irish U20s have put up some big scores in the 6N.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/131504114/how-french-and-irish-player-development-took-them-past-the-all-blacks

[Stargazer]

[Bovidae]

Looks strong, the forwards especially.

Hurricanes 2023 U20 Squad:

Konradd Newland (Hawke’s Bay), Malakai Hala-Ngatai (Manawatū), Vernon Bason (Manawatū), Raymond Tuputupu (Manawatū), Senio Sanele (Wellington), Siale Lauaki (Wellington), Bradley Crichton (Wellington), Tom Allen (Hawke’s Bay), Hunter Morrison (Hawke’s Bay), Matt Monaghan (Hawke’s Bay), Dominic Ropeti (Wellington) (VC), Kusitino Savea (Hawke’s Bay), Cooper Flanders (Hawke’s Bay) (C), Toby Crosby (Wellington), Matolu Petaia (Wellington)
Jordi Viljoen (Manawatū), Sam Howling (Wellington), Harry Godfrey (Hawke’s Bay) (VC), Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula (Manawatū), Jack O’Brien (Wellington), Meni Manase (Hawke’s Bay), Epeli (Waqa) Waqaicece (Manawatū), Bethel Malasia (Hawke’s Bay), Josiah Sakaria (Hawke’s Bay), Sam Coles (Manawatū), Chicago Doyle (Wellington), Tofuka Paongo (Wellington)

Hurricanes Named for Bunnings Warehouse Super Rugby U20s in Taupō

[Stargazer]

@Bovidae Not surprised at all that Cooper Flanders is the captain. I see Harry Godfrey is one of the vice-captains, Dom Ropeti being the other.

Of the original WTG announced in early February, there's one notable Hawke's Bay ommision in Corey Berkett, who IMO is a great talent. He also didn't attend the early Hurricanes U20 Dev camp, nor did he play in the game against the Crusaders U20, so maybe he's injured or they didn't need another 10. He'll still be eligible next year, I think. Or, he's in the NZ Barbarians team.

I don't think there are too many suprises in the team, with many returning for the second year.

[Bovidae]

I assume that the other squads get released tomorrow, although MP were meant to name their squad yesterday according to their own media release.

[Number 10]

It's the third tournament for Bradley Crichton, Harry Godfrey, Dominic Ropeti and Raymond Tuputupu.

[Bovidae]

https://www.chiefs.co.nz/news-item/university-of-waikato-chiefs-under-20-squad-named

Props
Gabe Robinson (Waikato)
Perry Lawrence (Taranaki)
Manahi Goulton (Waikato)
Keran Van Straden (Counties Manukau)
William Martin (Waikato)

Hookers
Taine Kolosi (Bay of Plenty)
Sean Ralph (Waikato)

Locks
Fiti Sa (Taranaki)
Peter Te Kahu (Taranaki)

Locks/loosies
Andrew Smith (Waikato)
Tai Cribb (Waikato)

Loose forwards
Grady Forbes (Bay of Plenty)
Jonty Short (Waikato)
Senita Lauaki (Waikato)
Malachi Wrampling (Waikato)

Halfbacks
Marley Murphy (Bay of Plenty)
Cohen Brady-Leathem (Counties Manukau)

1st 5s
Josh Penney (Counties Manukau)
Brayden Dew (Bay of Plenty)

Midfield backs
Aki Tuivailala (Waikato)
Te Hamana Te Aute (Bay of Plenty)
Tāmiro Armstrong (Bay of Plenty)
Codemeru Vai (Bay of Plenty)

Outside backs
Esau Filimoehala (Counties Manukau)
Waisake Salabiau (Waikato)
Cody Nordstrom (Waikato)
Jole Naufahu (Waikato)

[Crucial]

@Bovidae Good to see some CM second rowers in that squad. A weak area for us.

[Bovidae]

Toby Taylor mustn't have recovered from his injury.

@Crucial Ignore the numbers as they look to be squad numbers, not positions. It is listed from props to fullbacks.

[mikedogz]

@Crucial said in 2023 Super Rugby U20s:

@Bovidae Good to see some CM second rowers in that squad. A weak area for us.

Keran Van Straden is a prop.

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[Bovidae]

@mikedogz said in 2023 Super Rugby U20s:

Keran Van Straden is a prop.

Yes, the Chiefs could have had 3 of the NZ U19 props in their squad. Robinson is also there, but Taylor is injured.

[Bovidae]

I have amended the Chiefs U20 squad by position.

[Bovidae]

A few players who could have been in the Blues and Chiefs.

Inaugural Moana Pasifika Under 20s team named to tackle Bunnings Warehouse Super Rugby Under 20s Competition – Moana Pasifika

[Stargazer]

@Bovidae said in 2023 Super Rugby U20s:

Looks strong, the forwards especially.

Hurricanes Named for Bunnings Warehouse Super Rugby U20s in Taupō

Hurricanes U20 by position:

Props
Konradd Newland (Hawke’s Bay)
Malakai Hala-Ngatai (Manawatū)
Senio Sanele (Wellington)
Siale Lauaki (Wellington)
Bradley Crichton (Wellington)

Hookers
Vernon Bason (Manawatū)
Raymond Tuputupu (Manawatū)

Locks
Tom Allen (Hawke’s Bay)
Hunter Morrison (Hawke’s Bay)
Matt Monaghan (Hawke’s Bay)

Loose forwards
Dominic Ropeti (Wellington) (VC)
Kusitino Savea (Hawke’s Bay)
Cooper Flanders (Hawke’s Bay) (C)
Toby Crosby (Wellington)
Matolu Petaia (Wellington), I think he played at lock when he played for Hastings Boys'

Halfback
Jordi Viljoen (Manawatū)
Sam Howling (Wellington)

First five-eighths
Harry Godfrey (Hawke’s Bay) (VC)
Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula (Manawatū)

Midfielders
Jack O’Brien (Wellington)
Meni Manase (Hawke’s Bay)
Epeli (Waqa) Waqaicece (Manawatū)

Midfield/wing
Bethel Malasia (Hawke’s Bay)

Outside backs
Josiah Sakaria (Hawke’s Bay)
Sam Coles (Manawatū)
Chicago Doyle (Wellington)
Tofuka Paongo (Wellington)

Of the outside backs, only Sakaria is a specialist wing. The others seem to prefer fullback and able to cover first five-eighth.

[mikedogz]

https://www.dailypost.vu/vanuatu_sports/riki-ruben-aims-to-be-the-first-ni--van-to-don-the-all-blacks/article_49911f6c-4ed9-5d37-95a0-3c2c666a31fc.html

[Stargazer]

Inaugural Moana Pasifika Under 20s team named to tackle Bunnings Warehouse Super Rugby Under 20s Competition – Moana Pasifika

[Bovidae]

@mikedogz Ruben is the player I expected to be in the Blues squad.

[Stargazer]

Moana Pasifika U20 by position, school & other info (as far as I could find any):

Props
Brandon Televave – Tonga - Tongan & Auckland school; Hawke's Bay Academy
Israel Otunuku – Tonga - King's College, Auckland U19, 2022 Highlanders U20
Mikaele Vaeau – Samoa - Otago BHS
Salesa Seumanufagai – Samoa - St Pat's Town; in 2022 Wellington Samoa U18 squad
Seuteni Jr Sueteni – Samoa - plays club rugby in Ta$man comp

Hookers
Calvin Fepulea’i – Samoa - St Pat's Silverstream
Manase Mohuanga – Tonga - Aorere College; is or has been in the Waikato Academy

Locks
Maea Tema-Schmidt – Samoa - Scot's College

Lock/loosie
Tevita (Kini) Fonua – Tonga - Rotorua BHS

Loose forwards
Jarius Iosefa – Samoa - King's College
John Samuelu – Samoa - Rongotai College
Riki Ruben – Vanuatu - Mount Albert Grammar
Sam Asotasi – Samoa - played for Samoa U20 in 2022

Halfbacks
Dayton Iobu – Samoa & Cook Island - King's College; played for Blues U20 in 2022

First five-eighths
Afa Moleli – Samoa - Napier BHS
Kobie Scutt – Cook Island & Māori - Kelston Boys'; in 2022 Blues U18 squad; 2023 Future Taniwha squad
Kyren Taumoefolau – Tonga - Marlborough Boys College; played for Tonga 7s in 2023

Midfielders

Outside backs
Bless Perese-Elliot – Samoa & Māori - Rotorua BHS
Bitner Tafili – Samoa - has played for Samoa U20
Fatiauma Moeahu-Leota – Samoa & Māori - from Taranaki, was in Chiefs U20 Development group this year, also in the Warriors frame
Joe Tunumafono-Sale – Samoa - De la Salle College
Wally Tau – Samoa - played for Samoa U20 in 2022

Don't know the position of:
Lazarus Papali’i – Samoa - Botany Downs Sec Coll; 2022 Auckland Divisional 18s; 2023 Blues U20 WTG
Ofa Lea’amanu – Tonga - Tongan School? Saw him on a Tonga Ma'a Tonga Rugby League video
Paulo Junior Paulo – Samoa - played league for Wellington Orcas U18
Sonatane Kaufusi – Tonga - Manurewa High School? I can find more on Google about him being a good singer/musician than a rugby player.
Uluaki Kale – Tonga - Tupou College Toloa

Travelling reserves
Laukau Halatonu – Tonga
Saluni Pala – Tonga - in 2022 North Otago development squad; played 1 Heartland game for North Otago in 2022