2021 NZ Schools
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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.
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@bovidae said in 2021 NZ Schools:
@nepia No Maori in the Hastings team?
St Kent's only gets a single player in the Maori U18s, and he's off to Canterbury.
There'll be a few, clearly not good enough for the team though. I'm pretty sure Kaihau Pasikala is Maori (and Tongan).
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@bovidae said in 2021 NZ Schools:
@nepia Clearly the wrong iwi.
TBH, doesn't really look like an iwi based selection, plus I reckon his iwi is the same as at least three others in the team.
Clearly Hastings Boys, despite it's recent success is still seen as a backwater by the peeps in charge of schoolboy rugby and /or they clearly have the best coaches in the country as they turn these dunderheads into successful teams.
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@stargazer said in 2021 NZ Schools:
@bovidae Talking about camps. Exactly as I feared, the NZ Schools teams have again been named before the regional camps. So whatever happens in camp won't make a difference at all for NZ Schools.
saw that two. not that it will make much difference to there careers but i did laugh
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Interesting bits of that media release that some may have missed:
The Barbarian Under 18 criteria has changed in 2021 from a schoolboy’s team to Under 18, having the potential to capture players who may have missed out on representative opportunities during a fragmented season in 2020, Fisher acknowledged the New Zealand Barbarian Club for their ongoing support of schools rugby.
I assume this means that the "players who may have missed out" are all in the NZ Schools team, because they'd be the older players?
The coaches:The New Zealand Schools team is headed by the Hurricanes’ Chris Gibbes, with Gus Leger (Sacred Heart, Auckland) and Tyler Bleyendaal (Hurricanes) completing the coaching team. Fresh from leading the Black Ferns Sevens to gold in Tokyo, Allan Bunting will coach the Barbarian team, with assistant coaches Ryan Bambry (King’s High School) and James Hantz (Auckland Grammar). Kahu Carey (Rangitāne o Wairau, Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō) will coach the Under 18 Māori team alongside Simon Kneebone and Ngatai Walker (Ngāti Porou).
The games:While travel restrictions have affected an international schedule that was hoped, all three teams will assemble for a development week and play a game of three halves. The New Zealand Schools and New Zealand Barbarian Under 18s will play the curtain raiser to a Bunnings NPC match in Wellington on 8 October.
A further match for the New Zealand Māori Under 18 team, and the 2021 New Zealand Māori Under 18 Mareikura Girls team will be announced in due course.
That 8 October game, if they keep following the current schedule, will be Wellington v Canterbury.
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@stargazer said in 2021 NZ Schools:
@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!
How many of those boys are not eligible?
I sometimes wonder why a player isn't picked from my school. Until I remember he doesn't have an NZ passport or is too old.
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@chester-draws World Rugby eligibility rules don't apply to school rugby and I don't think NZR has having NZ citizenship as a requirement. Some examples:
Folau Fakatava was also selected in 2016 (Barbarians squad), his first year playing in NZ and not having a NZ passport.
Kini Naholo in 2017 NZ Schools team.
Anton Segner in 2018 and 2019.
Fabian Holland in 2020.
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@stargazer said in 2021 NZ Schools:
Interesting bits of that media release that some may have missed:
The Barbarian Under 18 criteria has changed in 2021 from a schoolboy’s team to Under 18, having the potential to capture players who may have missed out on representative opportunities during a fragmented season in 2020, Fisher acknowledged the New Zealand Barbarian Club for their ongoing support of schools rugby.
I assume this means that the "players who may have missed out" are all in the NZ Schools team, because they'd be the older players?
If you look at the team lists it will be those players with club affiliations next to their name. Most are in the Barbarians team.
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@stargazer said in 2021 NZ Schools:
@bovidae But they say they've changed the Barbarians team to "Under 18"? How can that include older players? I assumed those club players are boys who've left school at 17.
Two of the Waikato players left school last year as year 13s so must have been 17 and turning 18 this year.
I think the rules are that the players can be no older than 18 as of Jan 1 but don't have to be under 18 (i.e., 17). Maybe it is just a way to avoid players repeating year 13 to try to make these teams.
The same applies in the U20s where a player can turn 20 before the tournament but are still classified as U20 if they aren't yet 20 on the cut-off date.
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I've seen Payton play live a few times this year and last year. Last year he was the 1st 5 for the Hamilton BHS 2nd XV, and this year he played fullback for the 1st XV. He may stay at fullback next year (yr 13). He's taller than Carlos so probably quicker too. The full Super 8 final is available on YouTube to see him in action.
As to Tuitupou, I've only seen him on Sky in the Kelston-St Kent's game (highlights on YT), where he was playing at fullback. Again, he is a taller than Sam.
They've only named the squads at this stage but I could probably put a list by position together based on what I know.
