2024 NZ Schools Rugby
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Looks like a strong Barbarians side. It's a very small sample size (from 2021 to now) so I'm not sure it means a whole lot but the trend seems to suggest a growing inclusion from club and university rugby.
Non-First XV players selected: 2021, 5; 2022, 5; 2023, 6; 2024, 8.
Again, only a small increase but it's interesting to see the purpose of the team develop. The decision to make it an U18 selection in 2021 has certainly strengthened the side.
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More info here:
One more player to be added to the NZ Schools squad. Xavier Leota is listed as injured.
Coaches:
The New Zealand Schools team is headed by the Paul Tito (Blues) with Willie Rickhards (Auckland Grammar School) and Kieran Coll (St Thomas of Canterbury) completing the coaching team.
The New Zealand Barbarians team will be led by Darren Larsen (Hurricanes) with Tasesa Lavea (Saint Kentigern’s College) and Greg Feek (Blues) named as assistants.
Kahu Carey (Rangitāne o Wairau, Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō, Te Ātiawa, Kāi Tahu/Ngāi Tahu) will head the Māori Under 18 team coaching group. Willie Brown (Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Porou), Jeremy Wara (Waikato-Tainui, Ngāti Pikiao (Te Arawa)) and Simon Kneebone (Ngāti Porou) will round out the group.
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I've tried to break down the Schools' squad by position. Feel free to correct any mistakes, like I said, I don't follow First XV rugby too closely.
Props: Liam Van Der Heyden; Thomas Jennings; Charlie Wallis; James Moore
Hookers: Josh Findlay; Tyi Sinkinson
Locks: Bede Giera; Tevita Tatafu; Finn McLeod; Bradley Tocker (lock/6)
Loose forwards: Jake Hutchings (6); Saumaki Saumaki (6): Aidan Spratley (8); Aio Keith (6)
Halfbacks: Charlie Sinton; Oliver Gibbons
First Five-Eights: Mason Verster; Harry Inch
Midfield: Nico Stanley; Ollie Guerin; Jarrel Tuaimalo Vaega
Outside backs: JD van der Westhuizen; Siale Pahulu; Cohen Norrie
I've labelled the loose forwards in the positions that I've seen them play, but I could easily see a guy like Hutchings play openside as well. There are four players who I've seen play first five - Inch, Verster, Vaega and Norrie - but in this selection, I would think Vaega and Norrie are selected as a midfield back and fullback respectively.
Edited for correction.
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James Moore is a LH prop according to the CBHS team list I found.
Previously, midfielders end up playing on the wing, e.g. Guerin in this team. Pahulu has also being playing at centre.
It's interesting that the TBC and NC 9/10s have been selected. Inch for the worst mullet in 1st XV rugby.
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@Bovidae That would make sense. Moore's an interesting one, as I also saw several team sheets with him playing number eight. Another loose forward converted to the front row, it seems.
Pahulu and Van Der Westhuizen seem like the obvious candidates for the wing, but you're right about the recent selection policy. I hope they keep Guerin in the midfield. I like his defensive reads in the position.
I was impressed by Inch when I saw him play (hairstyle notwithstanding). He has good variety to his attacking game, maybe just a tad overeager at times. It'll be interesting to see whether the selectors go for cohesion or individual skillset.
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Players grow very quickly at this level so often their position changes. The current Hamilton BHS no.8 was the TH prop the previous year. Ollie Guerin is very quick, which is why he could be a candidate for the wing. He's a Y12 so a good chance to be involved in 2025 too.
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I figured I would do the same positional breakdown of the BaaBaas U18. Again, feel free to point out any mistakes or oversights.
Props: Tamiano Ahloo; Raharuhi Palmer; Presley McHugh; Samuela Takapu; Dane Johnston
Hookers: Alani Fakava; Tom Martin
Locks: Jake Frost; Frazer Brown; Johnny Falloon; Max Fale
Loose forwards: Micah Fale (6/7); Gregor Rutledge (6/7); Rupeni Raviyawa (8); Drew Berg-McLean (6/7)
Halfbacks: Mitchell Swann; Benji Nation
First Five-Eights: Mika Muliaina; Rios Tasmania
Midfield/Outside backs: Fanua Fa'avae; Jack Wiseman; Peni Havea; Reimana Saunderson-Rurawhe; Lautasi Etuale; Pyrenees Boyle-Tiatia
Similar to the Schools' side, lots of positional flexibility. I've listed players where I've seen them play, not necessarily where I think they will play for the Barbarians. I've given up on making clear distinctions between the midfield and outside backs. Boyle-Tiatia has also played a lot at first five, so he might end up playing there as well.
Looking at the side like this, next to the Schools side, I think the Barbarians forward pack is very strong, especially at prop. Ahloo, Johnston, and Takapu especially are big dudes who scrum and maul well while also offering a lot in the carry. I would think Greg Feek had a prominent role at the selection table for this side.
It's in the backline where I think the Schools' side possesses a lot more pedigree and control. Again, looking at the two sides next to each other, you'd think the two teams would go for quite different game plans.
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@Mauss Palmer, Fale and Boyle-Tiatia have been playing for the Waikato U19s. Fale has actually being playing no.8 while at club level he was at 7. Boyle-Tiatia has alternated between centre and fullback in the games I have seen.
I'll go to the games and will copy the match programmes if the teams aren't listed.
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@Bovidae Cheers. Hopefully there's some more consistent information provided by NZR this year, but communication has been sparse for a long time now.
Interesting to hear about Fale, although he does strike me as a player who can be effective across the backrow. Going well at eight, you reckon?
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Micah Fale isn't that tall but is quick and runs hard at weak shoulders. He has got good ball skills too with the ability to offload in contact. The loose forward trio in today's game were all actually sevens (Oli Mathis and Liam Anderson being the others).
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@Bovidae There was a lot of talk about Mathis after last year's games against Aussie schoolboys - and justifiably so - but Fale had some really impressive outings as well. I still think he is best suited to openside, looking for opportunities around the ruck and linking in open play, but it makes sense that Waikato is looking for ways to best combine Mathis and Fale. Some talent to come through at the same time.
Haven't seen much of Anderson but I'll keep a look out for any available footage. Thanks for the updates, always fascinating.
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@Mauss said in 2024 NZ Schools Rugby:
Haven't seen much of Anderson but I'll keep a look out for any available footage. Thanks for the updates, always fascinating.
He was in the Māori U18s last year and if you watch the footage on YT of the 2022 Top 4 final Anderson was the no.8 for Hamilton BHS. Playing 7 for Fraser Tech in club rugby. He's taller than both Mathis and Fale so is usually at 6.
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@Bovidae Thanks. Should be plenty of available footage then. I see that he played against the Northland U19s for the Māori U18s, but that was a rather one-sided affair. I'll look at some of his games for HBHS.
Speaking of Māori U18s, I've been trying to look at the players of this year's team in order to get a sense of their positions and their potential strengths and weaknesses. But it's been tough to find even team sheets on some occasions, the Wairarapa College 1st XV, for example, seemingly being entered without numbers on the sporty.co.nz draws and results website. In the case of a player like Mako Blackman (great name, by the way), he's mentioned by the Gisborne Herald in 2023 as playing for Gisborne Boys' High in the reserve frontrow, but I haven't found any footage with him actually playing there.
Anyway, this is just to disclaim that I have very little faith in the accuracy of this positional breakdown. I've also only found one halfback - Kah’nal Ngawati - but I suspect a player like Le'Sharn Reiri-Paku, who is usually a first-five, provides cover there. I've grouped halfbacks and first fives for this reason. Again, feel free to add and correct where necessary.
Props: Isireli Qaranivalu; Alex Hewitt; Kane Paranihi;
Hookers: Jericho Wharehinga; Jack McCarthy
Locks: Oliver Church (FL); Clark Sutcliffe; Alex Arnold (FL); Mako Blackman
Loose forwards: Kobe Brownlee; Caleb Woodley; Jayden Broome; Noah Gregory; Cruiz Simpson
Halfbacks/First five-eights: Kah’nal Ngawati; Le'Sharn Reiri-Paku; Dallas Rata-Makene
Midfield/Outside backs: Hiraka Waitai-Haenga; Ethan Mcmanemin; Ryder Crosswell; Charlie Carroll; Kaden Makea; Brayden Neilson; Isaac Turoa (10); Wiremu Brailey
The locks, especially Church and Arnold, also often play as flankers, so the side doesn't possess a whole lot of height. It'll be interesting how they go at set-piece. There is some real quality throughout the side, though: Waitai-Haenga has already been mentioned as being unlucky to not make the top side and Kobe Brownlee was always highly involved in the games I've watched. Mcmanemin is a tall, athletic back who has shown promise for Tauranga.
Edited for correction.
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@Bovidae Good catch. I'll change Blackman to lock. But I'm guessing then there's still a prop somewhere else in the squad list that I've put in the wrong place?
Arnold's a good lineout player, from what I've seen. And I think the Māori U18s can have a strong set-piece, even without genuine tall timber. But in a hypothetical match-up against NZ Schools - where someone like Tevita Tatafu is supposedly over 2 metres - you could see it get into some trouble. But I have no idea about the Fiji and Samoa U18s second row stocks, so I guess the point is moot.
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The Māori U18s often have some future stars in their team, who are Y11 or 12s. I made a comment in 2022 about liking their 1st 5 Rico Simpson. That team also included Raharuhi Palmer, Josh Tengblad, Ben O'Donovan, Josh Whanga, Logan Wallace and King Maxwell. All are in the NZ Schools or NZ U20s in the next year or two. Hopefully this squad is competitive too.
NZ Schools, NZ Māori U18 Ngā Whatukura and NZ Barbarians U18 teams named
