2021 NZ Schools
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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.
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These are their positions to the best of my knowledge.
Austin Anderson - 2nd 5/fullback
Torian Barnes - blindside
Vernon Bason - hooker (is a converted no.8)
Tahlor Cahill - lock
Che Clarke - lock/blindside
Chicago Doyle - fullback
Esau Filimoehala - 2nd 5
Cooper Flanders - no.8
Finn Hurley - 1st 5
Isaac Hutchinson - fullback
Gage Jackson - no.8
Taha Kemara - 1st 5
Siale Lauaki - TH prop
Francis Manuleleua - 2nd 5
Matt Monaghan - lock
Sean Ralph - hooker
Gabe Robinson - TH prop
Andrew Smith - lock
Payton Spencer - fullback
Tony Tafa - LH prop
Toby Taylor - LH prop
Essendon Tuitupou - fullback/midfield
Jordi Viljoen - halfback
Riley Williams - halfback
Malachi Wrampling-Alec - no.8A couple of notes:
(1) There are quite a few year 12s in this squad, more than usual.
(2) A lot of fullbacks will end up playing on the wing, and some of the better wingers are in the Barbarians and Maori teams.
(3) No real openside selected so expect either Flanders or Jackson to play there.As I had mentioned earlier they seem to select what they consider to be their best players and then find a position for them.
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47 under 18 players have been selected to assemble in Palmerston North next month for the 2021 edition of the Hurricanes U18 Development Camp.
Representing 14 different secondary schools and 3 clubs from the Hurricanes region, as well as 2 players from out of the region who have been contacted in for 2022.I assume they mean contracted? By whom? Hurricanes development contract? Wellington, or one of the other provincial unions?
At the conclusion of the camp, two Hurricanes Under 18s teams will play the Chiefs Under 18 sides on Friday, October 15 in Taupo.
Breakdown:
15 Hawke's Bay (8 Hastings Boys', 4 Napier Boys', 2 St John's College, 1 Lindisfarne College)
13 Wellington (5 Wellington College, 3 St Patrick’s Silverstream, 2 St Patrick’s College Town, 2 Scots College, 1 Wellington FC)
9 Manawatū (5 Palmerston North Boys’, 2 Feilding HS, 1 Manukura, 1 Te Kawau RFC)
3 Poverty Bay (3 Gisborne Boys')
3 Whanganui (3 Whanganui Collegiate)
1 Horo-Kap (1 Paraparaumu RFC)
1 Wai-Bush (1 Rathkeale College)
2 contracted players (Chicago Doyle, King's College and Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula , St Andrew's College)By the way, Armstrong-Ravula played for the Queensland U16s in 2019. He attended Ipswich State High School before STAC.
Oh, and Wellington College looks seriously overrepresented.
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@bovidae Hmmm, Scots were well beaten by St Kent's, King's College and Napier Boys', and only beat Gisborne by 1 point (Gisborne being very weak this year). Their match against Hastings was cancelled for some reason. I wasn't that impressed when I watched their game against Napier.
Having said that, they hammered Wellington College, who haven't even made the Wellington Premiership Final and - to my surprise - managed to get 5 players in Camp.
Edited to add:
Lindisfarne players who impressed me, and haven't been picked, are hooker Kingshouse Tupuola and lock Tom Druzianic.
From Hastings Boys I'm missing halfback Phillip King-Panapa (who started most of the season and was part of the 2019 champions team, like some of the others who have been picked) and openside James Pese. I think King-Panapa has been injured during the season, giving Jordan Viljoen an opportunity. IIRC King-Panapa was in camp, last year.
From Napier Boys' I'm missing captain Gilgal Leutele-Malasia (no. 8). I'm wondering whether he's injured. He had a great season and really impressed. In HB only behind Cooper Flanders, but very different player (big, strong and mobile). His (twin?) brother Bethel last played in July, so I assume he had a season-ending injury, which is a pity because I think for both brothers it's their last year at school. Bethel and Gilgal were both selected for the Hurricanes camp, last year. They are nephews of Neria Fomai, by the way.
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@stargazer They are selecting players irrespective of the record of the team. Why pick any GBHS players otherwise?
Scots and Wellington College were the top 2 qualifiers in their competition, so the latter must have a stronger team than in previous seasons.
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@bovidae Ah, okay, but the Wellington Premiership Final is between Scots and Silverstream. I actually think that Silverstream was a bit weaker than previous years, Wellington College not necessarily stronger.
For comparison: Napier Boys has a relatively young team and smashed all Welligton schools they played, this year.
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Blues U18:
Maliu Niuafe, William Fonohema (Aorere College);
Esau Filimoehala, Gage Jackson, Jole Naufahu, Riley Williams (Auckland Grammar);
Xavier Saifoloi, Brandon Televavae (Botany Downs College);
Lucas Payne (Dargaville High School);
Hawkin Toeava, Iain-Robert Onosi, Joseph Tunumafono-Sale, Patrick Moimoi (De La Salle College);
Damon Kitchen, Hohaia Whiu, Ofa Topeni, Sila Hifo (Dilworth School);
Max Ameke (Edgewater College);
Nathan Halliday, Riley Harrison (Howick College);
Kobe Walters (Kamo RFC);
Essendon Tuitupou, JT Pont-Bellamy, Phillip Nu’u Sulusulu, Sam Howling, Tony Tafa, Xavier Tito-Harris (Kelston Boys High School);
Lucas Casey, Toby Bell (Kerikeri High School);
Che Clark, Francis Manuleleua, Maikel Tuala (Kings College);
Declan Murphy, Divan Lourens (MacLeans College);
Ben Skelton, Ricky Reuben, Tama Anderson (Mt Albert Grammar);
Holden Tatana, Loa Latu, Siolo Alatina (Massey High School);
Agape Kaho (Onehunga High School);
Cameron Christie (Orewa College);
Josiah Unga, Kobe Kay, Nathaniel Pole, Poasa Uiese, Sione Makasini (Sacred Heart College);
Blake Paxton (Southern Rugby Club, Te Kopuru);
Xavier Taele (St Kentigern College);
Blair Tagi-Fuimaono, Etuate Fukofuka, Konrad Toleafoa, Nick Muli, Siale Faeamani, Sika Uamaki-Pole (St Peters College);
Caleb Falloon (Takapuna RFC);
Jalal Vavae, Meni Manase, Ngatokorua Kamana, Spa Visesio (Tangaroa College);
Jack Bradley (Western Sharks RFC, Dargaville);
Titera Bura, Trystan Cook (Westlake Boys High School);
Reuben Clarke (Whangaroa College).https://blues.rugby/under-18-camps-to-reach-further-into-communities/
The Blues and associated provincial unions have been forced to cancel the October holidays Blues Region Under-18 Development Camp because of the Covid pandemic.
However, it has opened up an opportunity for more young players to be included in a wider development initiative.
The Blues now plan to stage a series of three one-day camps over three weekends in November, hopefully when the region is operating back at Level 1.
Accordingly, without the significant accommodation costs of a live-in camp, the Blues can engage with a larger group of players.Dates, venues and details will be forwarded in the coming weeks.
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Bummer.
New Zealand Rugby has announced today changes to the 2021 Schools programme due to the inability for Auckland based players to train or play under current COVID-19 Alert Levels.
The New Zealand Schools and Barbarian Under 18s camps and matches due to be held next month have been cancelled. The New Zealand Māori Under 18 Ngā Whatukura and Ngā Mareikura teams will now assemble in Wellington and Rotorua respectively for development camps in early October.The decision to cancel has been made due to the inability for Auckland based players to have a safe return to play programme, with the region operating under Alert Level 3 for at least the next two weeks. The camp could not be shifted to a later date as all selected will take part in the regional Super Rugby Under 18 camps the following week.
Changes to New Zealand Schools programmes
New Zealand Rugby has announced today changes to the 2021 Schools programme due to the inability for Auckland based players to train or play under current COVID-19 Alert Levels.
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@bovidae I wonder why the camps couldn't be held without the Auckland region players? Sure, it would have been sad for those players, but why do all other players have to miss out as well? It's a development opportunity missed! The Jock Hobbs programme has been quietly canned this year, as well.
At least the franchise camps are still going ahead, but still ...
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@stargazer I'm also really surprised that openside Sam Morgan (Silverstream) missed out, he was by far in a way their best this year. I know he's also big on his cricket so maybe he's chosen that path.
