2019 Māori All Blacks

[Bovidae]

@Stargazer I was at that game. I remember all the numbers falling off the new NZM jerseys.

[Bones]

@Stargazer geez how much bigger was Aaron Smith back then?

Not sure Robbie Robinson should have been named at loosehead.

[Stargazer]

Māori U20 squad:

Kershawl Sykes-Martin
Nelson Rugby Club
Ngāti Porou

Te Ariki Te Puni
University RFC Auckland
Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Porou, Rangitāne o Manawatu
Ngāi Te Rangi

Jonas Pomare
Mt Maunganui Sports Club
Ngāpuhi

*Poukohe Sorensen
Te Puna RFC
Te Arawa, Ngāti Porou

Tyrone Thompson
Marist St Pats
Ngai Tā Manuhiri, Ngāti Rangiwewehi

Tanara Haenga
Wainuiomata RFC
Ngāti Porou

Josh Hill
University of Otago RFC
Ngāi Tahu

Leo Ngatai-Tafau
Ardmore Marist RFC
Ngāti Porou, Tainui

Keelan Whitman
Marist St Pats
Ngāti Rangiwewehi

*Cortez-Lee Ratima
Otorohonga RFC
Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Tama

Leo Thompson
Marist St Pats
Ngai Tā Manuhiri, Ngāti Rangiwewehi

Shamus Hurley-Langton
College Old Boys Wellington
Te Āti Awa, Taranaki

Samuel Smith
Wainuiomata RFC
Ngāti Raukawa, Ngati Kahungunu

Coel Kerr
Lincoln University RFC
Ngāti Ranginui

John Croft Cooper
Ponsonby District RFC
Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngā Puhi, Tūwharetoa

Kaipo Brown
Tauranga Rugby Sports & Recreation Club
Te Aupōuri, Te Arawa, Tainui, Ngāi Te Rangi, Te Āti Awa

Dennon Robinson-Bartlett
Whakarewarewa Community Sports Club
Ngāti Kahungunu

Tamarau McGahan
Marist North Harbour
Ngāi Tūhoe, Ngāti Raukawa

Tobias Wickham-Manuel
Kia Toa RFC
Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Tūwharetoa

Tahu Kaa
Lincoln University RFC
Ngāti Porou, Ngāi Tahu

Zarn Sullivan
College Rifles RFC
Ngāti Kahungunu

Isaac Bracewell
Wellington Football Club
Ngāti Maniapoto

Callum Bean
Grammar Tec Auckland
Ngai Tahu, Ngā Puhi

*Availability subject to Club Commitments

Coaches and management:

Head Coach
Rua Wanoa
Ngāti Porou

Forwards Coach
Anthony Rehutai
Ngāti Porou

Forwards Assistant
Tracey Davis
Ngāti Whātua

Backs Coach
Stacey Grant
Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa

Backs Assistant
Joseph Wineera
Ngāti Ruanui, Ngāti Toa, Ngāti Koata, Ngāi Tahu

Cultural Advisor
Mihaere Emery
Tūhoe, Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Koroki Kahukura, Ngāti Raukawa

Mark Seymour
Manager
Ngāti Hikairo

Kieran Te Whare
Trainer
Ngati Tūwharetoa

Tioke Pryor
Physio
Ngāi Tuhoe. Ngāti Awa, Ngāi Te Rangi

Tiki Edwards
Campaign Manager
Whakatōhea, Ngāti Raukawa

[Stargazer]

Not a single player from this year's NZU20s. I wonder why?
I recognise names from 2018 NZ Schools, NZ Schools Barbarians and NZ Māori U18.

[gt12]

@Stargazer

If the strategy is getting exposure for lots of players to potentially develop future super players, that seems understandable. Others had opportunities, so use this team to give others a go?

[Stargazer]

@gt12 Yeah, maybe. I was thinking it might be an early trial for the NZU20 development camps later in the year. I assume many of these players will also play at the Jock Hobbs U19 tournament in September and some maybe even Mitre 10 Cup.

[Bovidae]

Have the Thompson brothers been poached by Wellington or studying there?

[Stargazer]

@Bovidae said in 2019 Māori All Blacks:

Have the Thompson brothers been poached by Wellington or studying there?

Wellington offered more money than the Bay could afford (I have it from a reliable source). Also, their dad played for Marist St Pat's, so that has probably been a factor, too.

They're both building apprentices, something they could have been in the Bay as well.

So, I call them poached. (Others will argue that they just wanted to play for Wellington, but I'm not buying that ).

[Bones]

@Stargazer who is their dad?

[MN5]

@Bones said in 2019 Māori All Blacks:

@Stargazer who is their dad?

Probably more a question for @Canes4life given his instagram stalking abilities.

[Stargazer]

@Bones His name is Judd Thompson.

[mrfc]

Anybody in here going to the Rotorua game??

[Stargazer]

@Steven-Harris The Māori All Blacks have arrived in Fiji. Do you know anything about this? Late addition to the squad?

[MN5]

@Stargazer said in 2019 Māori All Blacks:

@Steven-Harris The Māori All Blacks have arrived in Fiji. Do you know anything about this? Late addition to the squad?

Akira ruefully checking if Hansen has sent him any messages....

[Bovidae]

@Stargazer They said a prop would be added to the squad.

[Stargazer]

@Bovidae Yeah, true, but somehow I expected it to be Chris Eves again.

He may not get game time (I hope I'm wrong), but even just being with the squad and having this experience is awesome for the young lad.

[Bovidae]

@Stargazer

As the squad heads to Suva today, Coach Clayton McMillan confirmed three new players have joined the Maori All Blacks squad in Fiji.

Highlanders loose forward Elliot Dixon has withdrawn from the squad and prop Ben May has been ruled out with injury. Dixon has been replaced by Crusaders loose forward Billy Harmon (Ngai Tahu, Canterbury) while props Haereiti Hetet (Ngati Maniapoto, Waikato) and Pouri Rakete-Stone (Ngapuhi, Hawke’s Bay) are added.

[Stargazer]

@Bovidae Yes, just found it!

http://www.allblacks.com/News/34386/maori-all-blacks-squad-update

[Steven Harris]

@Stargazer Ben May blew his calf at training Monday ..so Rakete Stones who had been training with the NZ Maori as cover got called in..be interesting to see how he goes ,he’s loaded on 5kgs since last year..!

[Steven Harris]

@mrfc yes I will be, just booked my tickets..$60 for a family.