2021 NZ Schools
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@Stargazer I guess it is up to each organisation how they manage selections. Some places were still going through selection trials when COVID hit.
Some will use favouritism/ knowledge others may still run a trial. Some will lean on union selections and identification. eg Highlanders can draw on development sides from Otago and Southland who have had some games. -
@crucial In 2020, the franchise U20 camps were held in the week of 28 September. The 2020 New Zealand Barbarians Under 18 squad from which the Haden XV and Whetton XV teams were picked, was named on 23 September, so before all camps took place.
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My understanding is that there are "selectors" around the country who focus on different positions and then submit a list of players to be considered, likely independent of these U18 teams.
Apart from not knowing who these selectors are, the other question is how widely they look at 1st XV games and the regional bias of said selectors.
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Chiefs U18 camp
An abundance of talented young rugby players have been selected from across Chiefs Country to attend the annual University of Waikato Chiefs Region Under 18 Development Camp. The camp will run from October 11 – 14 at St Paul’s Collegiate School in Hamilton.
The camp is renowned for being a key event in the pathway for local players to make the step into professional rugby in the future. There will be a large focus on skill development and Chiefs culture, before playing two matches against the Hurricanes U18 in Turangi on Friday October 15.
Aki Tulivailala (Hamilton Boys High School)
Amilame Finau (St John's College)
Anaru Paenga Morgan (St Paul's Collegiate)
Andrew Smith (St Peter's School, Cambridge)
Austin Anderson (Hamilton Boys High School)
Bless Perese - Elliot (Rotorua Boys High School)
Brodie Robinson (Hamilton Boys High School)
Brooke Mitchell (Rotorua Boys High School)
Che Potaka (New Plymouth Boys High School)
Cody Nordstrom (Te Awamutu Sports RFC)
Cody Vai (St Peter's School, Cambridge)
Cohen Brady-Leathem (Pukekohe High School)
Dawson Smith (St Peter's School, Cambridge)
Finlay Davenport (Mount Maunganui RFC)
Gabe Robinson (Hamilton Boys High School)
George Reeves (Hamilton Boys High School)
Grady Forbes (Tauranga Boys College)
Jack Harding (St Andrews College, Waikato)
Jacob Mitchell (New Plymouth Boys High School)
Jae Broomfield (St Paul's Collegiate)
Jai Knight (Mount Maunganui High School)
Jericho Yorke (Rotorua Boys High School)
Jonty Short (St Peter's School, Cambridge)
Josh Penney (Auckland Grammar School, Counties)
Kaleb Saxon (Hamilton Boys High School)
Keran Van Staden (Hamilton Boys High School)
Lenzs Morunga (Manurewa High School)
Liukhane De-Thierry Rhind (Pukekohe High School)
Malachi Wrampling (St Paul's Collegiate)
Manase Mouhanga (Te Awamutu Sports RFC)
Marley Murphy (Hamilton Boys High School)
Moses McGoon (Hamilton Boys High School)
Ollie Robinson (St Peter's School, Cambridge)
Patrick Howlett (New Plymouth Boys High School)
Perry Laurence (New Plymouth High School/Old Boys)
Peter Te Kahu (New Plymouth Boys High School)
Peyton Spencer (Hamilton Boys High School)
Reuben Palmer (Tauranga Boys College)
Ruban Chisolm (Te Teko RFC/Whakatane High School)
Ryan Michie (Rosehill College)
Sean Ralph (Hamilton Boys High School)
Taeo Pomale-Time (Manurewa High School)
Taha Kemara (Hamilton Boys High School)
Tai Cribb (Hamilton Boys High School)
Taine Kolosi (Rotorua Boys High School)
Tamiro Armstrong (Rotorua Boys High School)
Te Hamana Te Aute (Rotorua Boys High School)
Tiernan Sanders (St Johns College)
Toby Taylor (Tauranga Boys College)
Tom Poona (Rotorua Boys High School)
Tyler McNutt (Hautapu RFC)
Zac Macdonald (New Plymouth Boys High School)
Zinzan Hansen (University of Waikato RFC)The following players have been selected as standby players:
Adrian Wharawhara (St John's College)
Blake Christie (Francis Douglas Memorial School)
Callum Tito (New Plymouth Boys High School)
Cole McClure (Hamilton Boys High School)
Joshua Keech (Francis Douglas Memorial School)
Junior Tolutau (Wesley College)
Kash Farmer (St Peter's School, Cambridge)
Oli Mathis (Hamilton Boys High School)
Patrick Hedley (Te Kuiti High School)
Piripi Tapsell (Tauranga Boys College)
Samuela Vakadula (New Plymouth Boys High School)
Siri Rova (New Plymouth Boys High School)
Sloane Lankshear (Tauranga Boys College)
Thomas Cane (St Paul's Collegiate)
Will Martin (Hamilton Boys High School) -
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@rapido said in 2021 NZ Schools:
Where / what is "St Andrews College, Waikato"? Never heard of it before.
He will be at St Andrews College (STAC) but from/signed with Waikato. It is the same for the Crusaders squad which have players at Scots, AGS, St Kent's and Hamilton BHS.
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@stargazer This year there are also U18 players in the squads who have already left school so their club is listed.
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@chris-b said in 2021 NZ Schools:
Zinzan Hansen.
Destiny's child!
Yeah, a great name.
I saw him play when I went to watch Waikato Uni in a club rugby game. I hadn't realised he was so young but he scored a 40 m try showing plenty of pace. A tall and athletic lock.
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https://www.allblacks.com/news/top-schoolboy-talent-selected-in-national-teams/
Links have the full squads.
It looks like two roughly equivalent squads rather than an A and B team.
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Having a closer look at the teams Chicago Doyle looks to be another King's College player that is heading to Wellington.
If they have selected a true NZ Schools and Barbarians squad I am really surprised to see Jeremiah Asi, Ajay Faleafaga and Sam Howling in the Barbarians team.
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@bovidae Geez, what a disappointing selections. Only two players from Hastings Boys in NZ Schools. Cooper Flanders should definitely be there as one of the best 1st XV players in the country, but some other very good players are missing! Where's Mefi Tupou? Kaihau Pasikala? Alex Dickie? And they pick a halfback that I've hardly noticed this year. Such a strong team this year and not even a single player in the other two teams.
And also only one player from Napier Boys, promising halfback Cory Berkett. Where's Afa Moleli? Gilgal Leutele Malasia?
You'll disagree, but I think some schools, including Hamilton Boys and King's College, are overrepresented if you look at the relative strenghts of the schools and talent of players. Wellington based scouts/selectors for players from the Hurricanes region, who couldn't be bothered watching Super 8 games? Why does this keep on happening, year after year?
Pasikala may possibly still have a year to go at school, so hopefully next year!
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@stargazer I said I was surprised at some of the selections, and with the year Kelston has had they are under-represented.
Even with my Hamilton BHS hat on I didn't expect so many in the NZS team. Kemara, Cahill and Spencer were obvious choices, and maybe one of the front rowers like Robinson. Anderson is a huge surprise and I thought he was going to RL.
You can go and watch the camps and see them for yourself.
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ind it interesting that Otago and the Highlander's rock star signing is in the babas. While the home grown boy who is just working away in Finn Hurley has made the top side.
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@stargazer Shit, I read this thinking Flanders had actually missed out before checking out the team itself.
I think Hamilton Boys are the Crusaders of schoolboy rugby and this will elevate a few of their players over comparable similar players.
It is interesting that a top 4 team like Hastings only manages to get two players across all three of those teams. Great coaching I guess.
