2018 New Zealand Schools
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Players selected for New Zealand Schools development camp
New Zealand’s top schoolboy rugby players have been selected to attend the New Zealand Schools development camp in Palmerston North next weekend. The 1st XV rugby season came to a close yesterday with St Peter’s College (Auckland) claiming the Top Four title, captain Niko Jones is one of 53 players chosen to attend the national camp. 26 schools are represented from 12 Provincial Unions. The three-day camp in Palmerston North will culminate with the New Zealand Schools and New Zealand Barbarians Schools teams being named.Players selected are:
Name - School
Arthur Allen - Christs College
Iona Apineru - St Patrick's College - Silverstream
James Arscott - Otago Boys' High School
Rocco Berry - St Patrick's College - Silverstream
Caleb Cavubati - Scots College
Louie Chapman - Christchurch Boys' High School
Valynce Crosby-Te Whare - St Paul's Collegiate
Stewart Cruden - Palmerston North Boys' High School
Sam Darry - Christs College
Corey Evans - Auckland Grammar School
Chay Fihaki - Sacred Heart College
Taufa Funaki - Sacred Heart College
Zach Gallagher - Christs College
Josh Gimblett - Napier Boys' High School
Matt Graham-Williams - St Kentigern College
Lukas Halls - King's College
Maximilian Hughes - Christchurch Boys' High School
Niko Jones - St Peter's College
Tahu Kaa - Christchurch Boys' High School
Jacob Kneepkens - Francis Douglas Memorial College
Benet Kumeroa - Auckland Grammar School
Peni Lasaqa - St Kentigern College
Josh Lord - Hamilton Boys' High School
Josiah Maraku - Feilding Agricultural High School
Thomas Martin - Hamilton Boys' High School
Saula Mau - Auckland Grammar School
Blair Murray - New Plymouth Boys' High School
Mahonri Ngakuru - St Kentigern College
Simon Parker - St Peter's School
Jacob Payne - Southland Boys' High School
Noah Perelini - King's College
George Prain - Rangiora High School
Isaiah Punivai - St Kentigern College
Rivez Reihana - St Kentigern College
Robert Rush - St Kentigern College
Anton Segner - Nelson College
Sam Smith - Wairarapa College
Roderick Solo - Scots College
Ropati So'oalo - Aotea College
Poukohe Sorenson - Rotorua Boys High School
Kristian Standen - New Plymouth Boys' High School
Zarn Sullivan - King's College
Tiaan Tauakipulu - St Kentigern College
Patrick Teddy - Napier Boys' High School
Patrick Thacker - Christs College
Tyrone Thompson - Napier Boys' High School
Liam Udy-Johns - Hastings Boys' High School
Ovaleni (Junior) Uelese - Scots College
Soane Vikena - Mt Albert Grammar School
Ethan Webster-Nonu - Scots College
Keelan Whitman - St Patrick's College - Wellington
Tamaiti Williams - St Kentigern College
Gideon Wrampling - St Paul's CollegiateNew Zealand Rugby’s High Performance Player Development Manager Matt Sexton said the quality of 1st XV rugby continues to impress. "Every year we see talented players right across the country which means our selection process needs to be incredibly rigorous. "The depth of talent we have seen this year makes the task of selecting this group very hard, our focus has been rewarding players who have performed consistently over the course of the entire season for both school and representative teams," said Sexton. Of the selected players, experience comes in the form of nine players who were involved in the 2017 schools programme, while Sam Smith represents Heartland Unions out of Wairarapa College. Saint Kentigern has the most players selected, with eight, followed by Christs College and Scots College with four players each. Last year’s Barbarians Schools coaches Brad Mooar (Crusaders) and Sam Moore (New Plymouth Boys’ High School) will lead the 2018 New Zealand Schools team. Highlanders Assistant Coach Cory Brown will take the reigns of the Barbarians Schools team and will be assisted by Mark Hooper from Kelston Boys’ High School.The teams will be announced on 23 September.
Match schedule
27 September
New Zealand Schools v Tonga Schools, Brisbane
New Zealand Barbarians Schools v New Zealand Maori Under 19, Wellington
1 October
New Zealand Schools v Australian schools Barbarians, Brisbane
New Zealand Barbarians Schools v Fiji Schools, Wellington
6 October
New Zealand Schools v Australian Schools, Brisbane
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I'm absolutely gobsmacked that only three players of Napier Boys made it into the wider training group. Particularly centre Leo Thompson missing out is ridiculous. And only two from St Peter's. But more players from schools that didn't even make the Top 4 (St Kent's, Christ's College, Scots College). How do they select these players?
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I understand that these squads are selected from the 5 Super U18 teams as much as from watching 1st XV rugby. The caveat is that those teams can be selected based on who the coaches are.
From a Ham BHS perspective, the only 2 players I thought had a chance have been selected. Josh Lord could have a big future as 2 m schoolboy locks aren't that common.
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@stargazer if it’s anything like under 20s then the unions nominate players to look at.
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@stargazer punivai was Christ’s college too. Except for a wee ‘ incident ‘ he would’ve still be there.
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@chchfanatic Doesn't say much for Thorne's coaching if CC have more players in the squad than CBHS.
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Could the spread of players be a reflection of the more even competition this year? In the past two years there’s been two outstanding teams (Hastings and MAGS and Hastings and Ham) who have supplied many players. This year it’s been much more competitive and the top 4 teams aren’t dominating selection.
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I think you would also need to look at U18 teams to see the spread across schools within each region. One would assume that St Kents dominated the Blues team although Reihana was in the Chiefs and Punivai the Crusaders teams. There may be others in the same situation.
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Crusaders U18 Squad for 2018
I have had a good look at this team as a whole, also what I think they can put together as their strongest team and think this could be the strongest team in the country out of all the Region teams. The Junior Knights Development Camp will be held in Christchurch next week, and the […]
Here's an article on the Crusader's U18 squad that talks about some of the players who made this team.
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I'm very glad that non-selection in NZ Schools does not completely remove the chance to be selected for NZ U20 in the next few years. The good players of those that aren't, but possibly should have been, selected for NZ Schools can still get an invite to the NZU20 camps, if they either have another good year at school (depending on age) and make NZ Schools next year, or if they have a good club rugby season next year and make it into provincial U19s, Mitre 10 Cup or SR U20s squads.
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@stargazer It's only 1 from St Peter's, Simon Parker must be from St Peter's Cambridge? Surely being national champions we deserve more than 1 player?
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@african-monkey said in 2018 New Zealand Schools:
@stargazer It's only 1 from St Peter's, Simon Parker must be from St Peter's Cambridge? Surely being national champions we deserve more than 1 player?
The one shouldn't lead to the other. The team won, but individuals in it don't "deserve" anything because their team is good.
The Chiefs won the Super title and didn't then get a haul of All Blacks that year as a result. There wasn't a rush of Hurricanes when they won either. No-one even suggested it really. Rugby is a team game, and just because the team is outstanding doesn't mean lots of the players are.
I'm actually really encouraged by how the union does this. It suggests they aren't just swayed by who is in the best team, but actually see good players in lesser teams.
If they are canny, they will discount big boys who dominate through sheer size, and pick more skilled boys who will grow. (There's a few on the Fern who are quite vocal about Auckland schools, in particular, who try to dominate through size alone, to the detriment of skill.)
Also there are age limits. Many players in top teams are not eligible, especially the Year 14s but also many Year 13s.
(A friend alleges that barely any of the Rotorua side that won a few years back were even eligible for selection. He'd seen their team sheet.)
Some will be ineligible as they are not NZers. Presumably only two per team, but often two of the better players (which is why they were chosen in the first place).
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@chester-draws also no players who have signed league contracts. Which is fair enough I guess.
I’d love to see a breakdown of how many nz schools players have gone on to abs compared to nz20s players. -
@chchfanatic Good call. I wonder how many of those St Peter's players have been ruled ineligible that way?
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@chester-draws I'd be suprised if any have we've barely had anyone ever sign to rugby league sides over the years and I can't see that changing (I could probably count it on one hand).
I'm not saying the whole side should have been picked, I just feel that a couple of others deserved a look at as well but never mind.
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I am involved in coaching 1stXV and have coached some of these boys and against some. Looking at the list it's reasonably accurate, there are always going to be arguments either way. There are some schools who win because they have a more even spread of talent or team culture and those that have 3-4 very talented individuals. In the end the cream rises to the top ABs etc. example the 2015 WC starting team 8 did not play NZ schools. Not an exact science. Rules like league contracts etc play a huge part as has been mentioned
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@chchfanatic 20s if far more accurate as a number do not make 20s from school. example from this years rugby championship if played schools, 20s both or none. only 12 have played both schools and 20s I think
Hookers
Dane Coles 21s only
Nathan Harris 20s only
Codie Taylor bothProps
Owen Franks both
Joe Moody none
Tim Perry none
Karl Tu'inukuafe none
Ofa Tuungafasi bothLocks
Scott Barrett 20s only
Brodie Retallick 20s only
Samuel Whitelock bothLoose Forwards
Sam Cane both
Shannon Frizell neither
Jackson Hemopo 20s
Kieran Read both
Ardie Savea both
Liam Squire neither
Luke Whitelock bothBacks:
Halfbacks
TJ Perenara both
Aaron Smith 20s only
Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi 20s onlyFirst five-eighths
Beauden Barrett 20s only
Damian McKenzie both
Richie Mo'unga 20s onlyMidfielders
Ryan Crotty both
Jack Goodhue 20s only
Anton Lienert-Brown 20s only (but wld have rep schools if not inj prob.)
Sonny Bill Williams noneOutside backs
Jordie Barrett 20s only
Rieko Ioane both (never played 20s though)
Nehe Milner-Skudder none
Waisake Naholo 20s only
Ben Smith nonealso from 2014-2016 nz schools squads 38/72 have gone onto NZ 20s WC squad, a number of others have been involved in lead up but not made final squad or been inj.
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@machpants said in 2018 New Zealand Schools:
Not many from outside the 'big name colleges', but one from my old school Wai Col which is nice to see!
Aotea College would be in the same category from the Wellington region.
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Stewart Cruden - Palmerston North Boys' High School
From Palmy, same name ... what relation?
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Thanks @chchfanatic
What position? (If it was in the article I apologise in advance ... my level of interes t only warrants skimming over the team list and seeing what schools were represented
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Bailey Gordon - Western Heights High School - Te Arawa
Billy Priestly - Gisborne Boys' High School - Ngāti Porou, Te Aitanga a Hauiti
Chris Hemi - St Patrick's College, Silverstream - Ngāti Kahungunu
Cortez-Lee Ratima - Hamilton Boys' High School - Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Tama
Damarus Hokianga - Hastings Boys' High School - Ngāti Kahungunu
Daniel Rona - New Plymouth Boys' High School - Te Atiawa
Jack Gray - Ponsonby Rugby Club - Ngāti Whakaue
Jayden Walker - Napier Boys' High School - Ngāti Kahungunu
Jordan Thompson-Dunn - Hastings Boys' High School - Ngāti Kahungunu
Kynan Stowers-Smith - St Bede's College - Ngāti Tama
Leo Ngatai-Tafau - St Peters College (Auckland) - Ngāti Porou, Tainui
Leo Thompson - Napier Boys' High School - Ngai Tā Manuhiri, Ngāti Rangiwewehi
Niko Manaena - Southland Boys' Boys High School - Ngāti Porou, Ngai Tahu, Ngāti Kahungunu
Nikora Broughton - Hato Paora College - Ngāti Ruanui, Ngā Rauru, Te Āti Haunui ā Papaprangi
Oliver Parkinson - Auckland Grammar School - Te Arawa, Te Rarawa
Raniera Peterson - Upper Hutt Rams - Ngāti Kahungunu
Ruben Love - Palmerston Boys' High School - Te Atiawa
Samuel Sexton-Walton - Karamu High School - Ngāti Kahungunu
Taylor Dale - Otago Boys' High School - Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Whatua
Te Paea Cook-Savage - St Paul's Collegiate - Ngai Takato
Te Rama Reuben - Rotorua Boys' High School - Ngāti Awa, Ngati Rangi, Te Arawa
Terrell Peita - Mt Albert Grammar - Te Rarawa Kaiwhare
Thomas Murray-Edwards - New Plymouth Boys' High School - Ngati Whakaue
Tiaki Fabish - Napier Boys' High School - Ngāti Maniapoto, Te Whanau ā Apanui
Zach Ririnui - Rotorua Boys' High School - Ngai Te Rangi, Ngāti RanginuiUnavailable due to injury: Werohika Witaka and Sione Tuliakiono
The team will assemble in Wellington on 22 September before matches against the New Zealand Schools Barbarians (27 September) and Fiji Schools (5 October). -
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Google tells me that Rua Wanoa is a former prop (who has played in the Wanganui club comp). He has been the head coach of this team at least since 2016.
Kahu Carey is (or was) a coach educator working for the Canterbury rugby union (previously, a rugby development officer at the Ellesmere rugby sub-union), who has also coached the Canterbury Maori team in recent years. He has been the backs coach of the NZ Maori U18 team previously.
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The NZ Schools and NZ Barbarians Schools squads have been selected.
New Zealand Schools
Iona Apineru - St Patrick's College - Silverstream (lock)
Louie Chapman - Christchurch Boys' High School (halfback)
Sam Darry - Christ's College (lock, apparently already over 2m tall last year)
Chay Fihaki - Sacred Heart College (first five-eighth)
Taufa Funaki - Sacred Heart College (halfback)
Matt Graham-Williams - St Kentigern College (prop, TH?)
Niko Jones - St Peter's College (loose forward)
Jacob Kneepkens - Francis Douglas Memorial College (first five-eighth? Played for 2017 NZ Fiji Schools 7s)
Joshua Lord - Hamilton Boys' High School (lock)
Josiah Maraku - Feilding High School (centre)
Thomas Martin - Hamilton Boys' High School (blindside flanker)
Saula Mau - Auckland Grammar School (according to google, he's a big lump of a TH prop, around 140kg?)
Blair Murray - New Plymouth Boys' High School (fullback)
Simon Parker - St Peter's School - Cambridge (lock/loosie)
George Prain - Rangiora High School (loose forward)
Isaiah Punivai - St Kentigern College (utility back, brother of Ngane)
Rivez Reihana - St Kentigern College (first five-eighth)
Anton Segner - Nelson College (loose forward, no. 8 )
Zarn Sullivan - King's College (first five-eighth, brother of Bailyn)
Tiaan Tauakipulu - St Kentigern College (prop)
Patrick Thacker - Christ's College (prop)
Tyrone Thompson - Napier Boys' High School (hooker)
Soane Vikena - Mt Albert Grammar School (loose forward??)
Ethan Webster-Nonu - Scots College (wing)
Tamaiti Williams - St Kentigern College (prop)
Gideon Wrampling - St Paul's Collegiate (midfielder, on greenandgoldrugby site described as poached by the Chiefs from the Reds)The New Zealand Schools’ and New Zealand Schools’ Barbarians teams have today been selected for their 2018 campaigns. Players have been selected after three days in a development camp at Massey University’s Sport & Rugby Institute in Palmerston North. New Zealand Schools’ Rugby Union chairman Garry Chronican named the New Zealand Schools’ team which features nine players from last year’s Schools' programme.Coach Brad Mooar said the quality of players at this week's camp had been exceptional which made for a tough task in selecting the team. "The selectors did a really great job in getting such a strong group of players together who have really embraced the last few days and made for an energising and positive environment. "We have a few returning players which is good but these young men have bonded very quickly, its a tight group of players already and we hope this campaign will be the best rugby experience that they have had," said Mooar..
New Zealand Barbarians Schools
Arthur Allen - Christ's College
James Arscott - Otago Boys' High School
Caleb Cavubati - Scots College
Stewart Cruden - Palmerston North Boys' High School
Corey Evans - Auckland Grammar School
Zach Gallagher - Christ's College
Josh Gimblett - Napier Boys' High School
Lukas Halls - King's College
Tahu Kaa - Christchurch Boys' High School
Benet Kumeroa - Auckland Grammar School
Peni Lasaqa - St Kentigern College
Mahonri Ngakuru - St Kentigern College
Jacob Payne - Southland Boys' High School
Noah Perelini - King's College
Robert Rush - St Kentigern College
SamSmith - Wairarapa College
Roderick Solo - Scots College
Ropati So'oalo - Aotea College
Poukohe Sorenson - Rotorua Boys High School
Kristian Standen - New Plymouth Boys' High School
Patrick Teddy - Napier Boys' High School
Junior Uelese - Scots College
Keelan Whitman - St Patrick's College - WellingtonNZ Schools' and NZ Schools' Barbarians teams named
The New Zealand Schools’ and New Zealand Schools’ Barbarians teams have today been selected for their 2018 campaigns. Players have been selected after three days in a development camp at...
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Just noticing that of the 53 players invited to camp, 26 have been selected for NZ Schools, and only 23 for NZ Barbarians Schools. Which means that 4 players have not been selected at all. One of them is flanker Liam Udy-Johns from Hastings BHS. I haven't checked who the other three are. I'd be interested to know why these four players are not in the Barbarians squad. 23 players doesn't seem enough for two games, with the risk of injuries. Are they injured? Not wanted? Or maybe just a mistake in copying the list to the website (wouldn't be the first time on this website)?
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@stargazer Just commenting that official lists of squads in alphabetical order isn't helpful if you aren't familiar with the players.
I have seen most of the Chiefs region players play so know about them but not those from the SI or Auckland/Wellington.
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Front row. Tamati Williams, Saula Mau, Tyrone Thompson.
Looks strong front row, Thompson been in great form this year, Williams was NZ Schools last year, Mau Barbarians. Thacker in rotation was barbarians last year also.
Locks
Good to see some timber but also ball runners/players. Darry and Lord will start, both 2m plus easy. They went head-to-head when chiefs-crusaders played earlier in year. Darry is someone I have seen since he was 13, thought then he could be AB in future. pretty sure his mum is ABs nutritionist.Loosies
Jones future is at 7, plays like dad but will interesting to see if he plays there for this team. Have seen a lot of Segner, year 12 here on scholarship from Germany (interesting) 6,3 100kg hard man. Parker should start at 6.
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Funaki is a runner and the incumbent form last year with Chapman backing him up unless they want the passing ability of Chapman10
Reihana the incumbent from last year also.Midfield
Punivai - Incumbent fro last year, better than his older brother should be teamed with Maraku who is a bit of a weaponnot actually sure of back three, haven't seen much of these guys but should be interesting. Might be proven wrong in long term but think this is one of the better tight 5s I have seen from schools with an establish 9-13 combo. should go ok.
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St Kentigans have, by my quick count, eight players in the two squads listed above. There must be a lot of hand wringing and finger pointing going on amongst their officials as to why they were unable to win the 1As given their riches in talent available to them. There might be a number of rival 1st XV coaches looking nervously at their penciled in squads for next season to see if there are going to be any late defections/unavailabilities.
