2024 New Zealand U20s

[Canes4life]

@Bovidae I think O’Brien is injured aswell. So a few players may come into contention for the WC squad.

[bobily2]

I thought Takataka would've made the squad - it looked like he was pretty dominant against the other scrums he came up against.

[Canes4life]

Anyone care to name the top 23 based on those selections?

[Bovidae]

@Canes4life said in 2024 New Zealand U20s:

Anyone care to name the top 23 based on those selections?

It will be hard to guess as some players could play in a number of positions. There will be some certain starters, e.g., those with SR/NPC experience.

Here is a breakdown by position:

Hooker
A-One Lolofie
Manumaua Letiu
Vernon Bason

Props
Joshua Smith
Konradd Newland
Kurene Luamanuvae
Sika Pole
William Martin

Locks
Liam Jack
Cameron Christie
Tom Allen

Locks/6
Andrew Smith
Tristyn Cook

Loose fowards
Jeremiah Avei-Collins
Jonathan Lee
Malachi Wrampling-Alec
Matt Lowe
Mosese Bason

Halfbacks
Ben O’Donovan
Dylan Pledger

1st 5s
Cooper Grant
Rico Simpson
Stanley Solomon

Midfield
Giancarlo Tuivailala
Josh Whaanga
Toby Bell
Xavi Taele

Outside backs
Frank Vaenuku
Isaac Hutchinson
King Maxwell
Sam Coles

[cgrant]

Mathys is not in the list. Wallace is among the reserves, I guess his injury was too recent so he wasn't considered for the squad.

[Bovidae]

@cgrant I am happy that that they haven't picked that many players straight out of school, especially forwards. Only Letiu and Mosese Bason were forwards who were in the NZ Schools team last year. Trying to fast-track the next big thing hasn't always worked in the U20s as they need a year of S&C to develop.

[Duluth]

'It’s not so much what they’re doing, it’s what we do': New Zealand u20s looking to end title drought

New Zealand U20 are the most successful nation in the World Rugby U20 Championship winning the title six times since its inception in 2008.

[Bovidae]

I assume they will be playing a warm-up game before leaving for Aust.

As to the captain, I think it will either be Vernon Bason, Aki Tuivailala or Tristyn Cook as the third option.

[Bovidae]

Cullen Gray, originally from Northland and schooled at Auckland Grammar, is in the preliminary Aust U20 squad.

[taniwharugby]

@Bovidae seem to be a few kids that head to Aus in their late teens now for rugby (plenty have done so for league for decades) my mate was talking to his dad at golf recently and talking about his rugby plans

Another local kid I know was playing his 1st season of senior rugby last year for Hora Hora (think he went via MAGs) I saw he popped up in the Rebels page as a reserve for thier 'A' team.

[Bovidae]

@taniwharugby The Brumbies seem to be the most aggressive in looking for talent in NZ. They also have the largest representation in the Aust U20 squad. I don't know if others have NZ links.

[Canes4life]

On Friday at 1pm at the NZCIS, there is a match between the New Zealand U20s squad and the Hurricanes Hunters (Development) team.

[Bovidae]

[mikey07]

A little bit off topic but the squad was in force at the dawn service here in Lower Hutt. I thought that was very classy.

[Bovidae]

The U20s, Black Ferns, as well as the Hurricanes and Phoenix have all been at NZCIS.

[SouthernMann]

@mikey07 said in 2024 New Zealand U20s:

A little bit off topic but the squad was in force at the dawn service here in Lower Hutt. I thought that was very classy.

Good to hear them getting out and about in our community

[Canes4life]

@Bovidae said in 2024 New Zealand U20s:

The U20s, Black Ferns, as well as the Hurricanes and Phoenix have all been at NZCIS.

I’d say the ABs will be there when they have a test in Welly. The facilities are outstanding and are reason why the Canes are so fit this year.

[Bovidae]

There is no official stream or TV coverage of the game against the Hurricanes Hunters.

[Bovidae]

The Hurricanes won 45-26. No U20 team list has been published.

[Canes4life]

@Bovidae not bad by the Under 20s, I thought it would have been more of a flogging than that.