2020 NZ Schools
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Congratulations to Harry Godfrey and Adam Lennox for being identified by the Hurricanes selectors for the 2020 Hurricanes Under 18 Camp. Unfortunately, they had to be withdrawn from the Hurricanes rankings and denied the chance of selection. The 94th Quadrangular Rugby Tournament is on the same week as the Hurricanes Camp in Napier which is the pinnacle of the WCS 1st XV Rugby calendar. They were able to access the Hurricanes coaches through the Hurricanes Roadshow in Whanganui. -
Blues U18
Females:
Tamara Ati (Macauley College); Sylvia Brunt (Mt Albert Grammar); Luisa Togotogorua, Dayna Moon, Abby Lockhart (Howick); Manaia Webb (Kerikeri); Maddison Mataafa, Christie Moncrieff (Westlake); Riko Takayoshi (Rangitoto); Madison Johnson (Dargaville).Males:
Manase Mohuanga (Aoerere); Faka’ongo Lea’aemanu, Finau Halafihi, Konrad Lotu-iga, Sam Hainsworth-Fa’aofo, Gage Jackson, Cullen Gray, Fehi Fineanganofo (Auckland Grammar); Josh Ioane, Brandon Tupu-Tuia (Botany); Lucas Payne (Dargaville); Wallace Sititi (DeLaSalle); Edward Whyte (Dilworth); Cameron Hansford, Rome Levi (Kaitaia High School); Tony Tafa, Aukusitino Salanoa, Kaleb Emile-Vaoga, Sam Howling (Kelston Boys); Sam Harper (Kerikeri High School); Israel Otunuku, Robbie Coman, Che Clarke, Dayton Iobu, Francis Manuleleua, Ali Leiataua, Luron Iosefa, Chicago Doyle (Kings College); Oscar Cowley-Andrea (Maclans); Zinzan Hansen (Massey High School); Quinton Nichols, Tama Anderson (Mt Albert Grammar); Rory Taylor, Keano Kini (Rosmini); Charlie Hankins, Jadin Kingi, Kobe Kay (Sacred Heart); Ben Ake, Allan Craig, Alefosio Aho, Will Bason, Liam Brady (St Kentigern); Ben Fuhiniu, Tito Tuipulotu, Ajay Faleafaga, Jeremiah Asi (St Peters); Righard Snyman, Brook Robson, Taufui Lolohea, Caleb Tangitau (Westlake); Josh Beehre (Whangarei).At the conclusion of the camp the group will travel to Hamilton for two games against the Chiefs Under-18 camp attendees.
Two teams from the five New Zealand Super teams will then assemble under Blues forwards coach Tom Coventry and former All Black Mark Hammett for a one-off fixture in Hamilton on October 10.
https://blues.rugby/talent-from-throughout-region-converge-for-u18-camp/
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New Zealand Rugby (NZR) has announced 50 players to assemble as the 2020 New Zealand Barbarians Under 18 squad. Following involvement in the regional development camps that take place across the country next week, the players will assemble in Hamilton and form two teams named after New Zealand and Barbarian Rugby legends Andy Haden and Alan Whetton. The teams will be coached by Mark Hammett and Tom Coventry as they prepare for a one-off fixture on Friday 9 October. The players selected represent 29 schools from 12 Provincial Unions, spanning from Dargaville High School in the north, to King's High School in Dunedin. King's College (Auckland), Hamilton Boy’s High School and St Andrew's College (Christchurch) have the biggest representation.https://www.allblacks.com/news/new-zealand-barbarian-under-18-squad-announced/
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Here is a list of the 50 players selected.
I'll add this information:
In 2019 NZ Schools team
In 2019 NZ Barbarian Schools teamFletcher Anderson (Christs College, Canterbury)
Jeremiah Asi (St Peters College, Auckland)
Torian Barnes (St Andrews College, Canterbury)
Will Bason (St Kentigern College, Auckland)
Che Clarke (Kings College, Auckland)
Allan Craig (St Kentigern College, Auckland)
Bradley Crichton (St Patricks College, Wellington)
Elyjah Crosswell (Palmerston North Boys’ High School, Manawatu)
Ollie Curtis (Christchurch Boys’ High School, Canterbury)
Chicago Doyle (Kings College, Auckland)
Ajay Faleafaga (St Peters College, Auckland)
Fehi Fineanganofo (Auckland Grammar School, Auckland)
Olly Foote (Hamilton Boys’ High School, Waikato)
Harry Godfrey (Whanganui Collegiate, Wanganui)
Ollie Haig (Otago Boys’ High School, Otago)
Jamie Hannah (Christchurch Boys’ High School, Canterbury)
Fabian Holland (Christchurch Boys’ High School, Canterbury)
Riley Higgins (St Patricks College Silverstream, Wellington)
Noah Hotham (Hamilton Boys’ High School, Waikato)
Dayton Iobu (Kings College, Auckland)
Luron Iosefa (Kings College, Auckland)
Taha Kemara (Hamilton Boys’ High School, Waikato)
Jadin Kingi (Sacred Heart, Auckland)
Siale Lauaki (St Patricks College, Wellington)
Adam Lennox (Whanganui Collegiate, Wanganui)
Hanz Leota (Scots College, Wellington)
Blake Makiri (St Peters Cambridge, Waikato)
Harris McRobbie (Rangiora High School, Canterbury)
George Methven (St Bede’s College, Canterbury)
Lavengamonu (Monu) Moli (Marlborough Boys’ College, Ta$man)
Havila Molia (St Pauls Collegiate School, Waikato)
James Mullan (Rangiora High School, Canterbury)
Joel Parry (St Andrews College, Canterbury)
Lucas Payne (Dargaville High School, Northland)
Te Rama Reuben (St Kentigern College, Auckland)
Dominic Ropeti (Scots College, Wellington)
Jone Rova (New Plymouth Boys’ High School, Taranaki)
Fiti Sa (Christs College, Canterbury)
Steve Salelea (Kings High School, Otago)
Isilei Saumaki (St Andrews College, Canterbury)
Wallace Sititi (De La Salle College, Auckland)
Christian Stenhouse (St Patricks College, Wellington)
Jayden Stok (Napier Boys’ High School, Hawke's Bay)
Tony Tafa (Kelston Boys’ High School, Auckland)
Caleb Tangitau (Westlake Boys’ High School, North Harbour)
Amini Toga (St Andrews College, Canterbury)
Mason Tupaea (Hamilton Boys’ High School, Waikato)
Quinlan Tupou (St Peters Cambridge, Waikato)
Rohan Wingham (Kings High School, Otago)
Owen Wright (Aotea College, Wellington) -
@Bovidae So they have selected the 50 players before the regional camps have even taken place? Why on earth have they done that? And based on what? And selected by whom?
Looking at the players on the list, I don't know which year all these players are in, maybe that's the reason for some players not being picked? I'm very surprised to see players like Afa Moleli (Napier Boys) and Cooper Flanders (Hastings Boys) missing from that list, but they're both year 12 IIRC. Not sure what year Andrew Hayward is in, but he was one of the better players of last year's Hastings Boys' champions team and he's not on the list either.
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When Hammett is involved who knows, but it does seem back to front. Last year the assistant coaches were from Scots College and Canterbury so I assume they were also selectors. Just who else selects these teams is a mystery.
There are year 12s on that list but most tend to be selected in the Barbarian Schools team.
I'll try to go along to watch the game on Oct 9 or 10. Go team Coventry!
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@Bovidae That entire selection process is a joke. I don't even think Hammett is involved in the selection; he wasn't last year (because of his Highlanders commitments). I think they use scouts. Hammett was full of excuses though, when he was criticised for not selecting a single player from Hastings Boys' champions team in the NZ Schools squad and only two in the NZ Barbarians School squad in 2019. We can't say for sure whether last year's selection process was to blame for NZ Schools' loss to Australia Schools (it's probably one of several factors), but you'd hope that they've reviewed the process. 2020 has been a terrible year for sports, so obviously this wasn't an ideal year for a more solid selection process, but I just can't get my head around the fact that they've selected the players before the regional camps have taken place. It just doesn't make sense.
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@Bovidae I have heard Allan Craig is signed on some sort of development contract to return.
NRU are trying different ways to get some of these kids to come back after schooling in Auckland.
In next few years be interesting to see some of the kids I have seen grow up and coached or my team competed against coming out of Auckland schools (Auckland Grammar, MAGs, St Kents, Dilworth)
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@taniwharugby It was interesting sitting near some of the parents last year for the NZ vs Aust Schools game. One was Craig's mother, who mentioned they were from up north. A couple of other parents indicated their sons were on the move to other provinces, and they have.
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@Bovidae yep and it is understandale.
I had heard (unsure if true) Sam Nocks father had suggested he sign for one of the several other provinces that were chasing his signature out of St Kents rather than come home to Northland as it would likely be better for his development and career.
I think we have better systems in place in the past few years though for some of these young guys, we just need to start getting better results on the park to make them see Northland as the team they want to come back and play for instead of choosing somewhere else.
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U18 Chiefs v Blues
Thu 1 October 2020 - St Paul's Collegiate, Hamilton
1.05pm – Chiefs U18 (Team Clarke) v Blues U18
2.35pm – Chiefs U18 (Team Messam) v Blues U18According to the St Paul's Collegiate Facebook page, both games will be broadcast live on Sky, but there's nothing in the Sky tv schedule, yet.
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The games are listed on the online Sky TV guide. I'll probably go along and watch if the weather is good. The Chiefs U18 camp started today at St Paul's.
