2021 New Zealand U20s
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This will probably become a short thread.
First news is that the World Rugby U20 Championship 2021 has been cancelled.
Statement on the World Rugby U20 Championship 2021
04/02/2021 02:55 The World Rugby U20 Championship 2021 will not take place this year due to the ongoing impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic. The decision was made in consultation with potential hosts and participating unions considering all aspects from financial impact to player welfare implications. World Rugby is now working with regions and unions to identify regional competition opportunities in a safe environment, reflecting the international federation’s ambition to support meaningful high performance competition pathways for the future stars of rugby.
It's a pity. A whole age group missing out on a great opportunity to play at the world stage for a second year in a row, but it's not unexpected, of course.I read somewhere today (I can't find at the moment where I read it; will post it later if I can find it), that provincial academy squads will play games in the next few weeks/months and that they will be used to select the U20s squads of the Super Rugby franchises and a NZ U20 team. So - with the WR statement referring to "regional competition opportunities" -, it seems they are looking to organise an Oceania Under 20 Championship (maybe with a few extra PI teams?).
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@bobily2 Yeah, a Super Rugby Aotearoa Under 20s comp would be a domestic option. Or - in addition to the Jock Hobbs U19 Tournament - organise an Under 21 equivalent to include the guys that missed out last year as well. Not sure whether NZR's finances allow for that, though. Maybe they'll change the Jock Hobbs U19 into an U20 tournament, this year.
However, I do really hope that the Oceania U20 Championship can go ahead, this year.
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@stargazer classic how the two players giving advice are Prinsep and Blackwell. 😂
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https://www.chiefs.co.nz/news-item/2021-university-of-waikato-chiefs-under-20s-squad-confirmed
2021 University of Waikato Chiefs Under 20’s:
Adam Lennox (Taranaki)
Ben Strang (Waikato)
Bernie Hati (Bay of Plenty)
Cassius Misa (Bay of Plenty)
Cody Nordstrom (Waikato)
Curtis Palmer (Bay of Plenty)
Daniel Sinkinson (Waikato)
Gideon Wrampling (Waikato)
Hakaria Richards-Coxhead (Waikato)
Havila Molia (Waikato)
Hemopo Cunningham (Taranaki)
Ioane Moananu (Counties Manukau)
Jadin Kingi (Counties Manukau)
JJ Pokai (Taranaki)
Jona Mataiciwa (Bay of Plenty)
Josh Bartlett (Bay of Plenty)
Josh Hopkins (Taranaki)
Josh Jacomb (Taranaki)
Kane O’Connor (Bay of Plenty)
Larenz Tupaea Thomsen (Counties Manukau)
Latrell Smiler - Ah Kiong (Waikato)
Lucas Cashmore (Bay of Plenty)
Mason Tupaea (Waikato)
Melino Fotu (Bay of Plenty)
Nathaniel Peters (Taranaki)
Nikora Broughton (Bay of Plenty)
Niwa Barlow (Taranaki)
Scott Jury (Taranaki)
Te Paea Cook-Savage (Waikato)
Te Rama Reuben (Waikato)
Tevita Ofa (Counties Manukau)
Thor Manase (Counties Manukau)
Tu’kalikali Vaipulu (Bay of Plenty)
Veveni Lasaqa (Bay of Plenty)Team Management
Head Coach: Paul Hodder (Waikato)
Scrum & Defence: Greg Smith (Waikato)
Forwards & Lineout: Jarrad Hoeata (Taranaki)
Skills: Chad Shepherd (Counties Manukau)
Contact & Analysis: James Porter (Bay of Plenty)
Manager: David Fox (Waikato)
Trainers: Tim Hurst (Waikato) & Scott Joblin (Bay of Plenty)
Physiotherapists: Rachel Lambert (Bay of Plenty) & Lauren MacDonald (Bay of Plenty)Fixtures:
Saturday 3 April: Blues Under 20s vs. University of Waikato Chiefs Under 20s, Bombay, 1.00pmSaturday 10 April – Saturday 17 April: Super Rugby U20 Tournament, Taupo
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Rising Hawke's Bay mentor Mark Ozich will coach the Highlanders at New Zealand Rugby's new Super Rugby under-20s championship, an event that will mark a significant change to the age-grade program at the national level. The tournament will be held in Taupō in April and effectively double as a trial for New Zealand under-20 selection. Although the World Rugby Under 20 Championship that was due to be held in Italy in June and July has been cancelled, it is still hoped that an Oceania tournament will happen this year.Ozich's involvement with the Highlanders follows an outstanding campaign with the Magpies in 2020, when he bolstered his reputation as a coach on the rise.Tony Brown will be head coach until the end of the 2022 season and assistant Clarke Dermody is being groomed to replace him, but Brown's departure to focus on Japan's 2023 Rugby World Cup campaign will open up a position in the Highlanders coaching setup.In the shorter-term, the under-20s Super Rugby tournament will give all five Super Rugby clubs a clear development pathway for their promising younger players. For the New Zealand under-20 program, it should give players more exposure to quality coaching, training and opposition after some underwhelming recent years at the World Rugby Under 20 Championship level. After dominating the tournament in its early editions, New Zealand have won it only twice since 2012 and have not produced a World Rugby Junior Player of the Year since Julian Savea in 2010. Former under-20 coach Craig Philpott lamented the fact that New Zealand’s rivals, particularly the northern hemisphere nations, were better prepared at the under-20 level.The Super Rugby under-20s championship does not spell the end of Jock Hobbs under-19 tournament for provincial unions, although Stuff understands it may be held under a different format. -
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@stargazer said in 2021 New Zealand U20s:
Typical that Ozich will coach the Highlanders U20s and not the Hurricanes U20s!
Sheesh, you’d think the canes would have lined him up to take over from the current lot. You can’t argue against his record.
Unsurprising though.
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I like the pathway aspect but would say that the Black Ferns players will see this as another avenue for NZR to sink money into the men’s game while putting SFA effort into the women.
I know it’s more complicated than that but the visuals are that they are putting no effort into finding an avenue for the women to even play let alone develop strength yet are happy to add even more opportunities for the mens.
I d be fuming at this if I was a black fern. -
@crucial Yep, they've been asking for a SR Aotearoa wahine for a few years now. It was again mentioned as preparation for the RWC2021 (because of the lack of test matches). It's a missed opportunity. I did watch several FPC games, and last year was terrible because of that North-South format, but the games between the top teams were awesome. That's what you would get if you pick the best of the best for SR teams. Maybe 5 teams would have been too many, I don't know, but they could merge Crusaders and Highlanders into one team.
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@stargazer It's also the aspect that the women always get told 'not enough money' then something new is added to the mens game.
Sad thing is that one of them is going to speak out soon and probably lose what's left of their career. -
@crucial said in 2021 New Zealand U20s:
@stargazer It's also the aspect that the women always get told 'not enough money' then something new is added to the mens game.
Sad thing is that one of them is going to speak out soon and probably lose what's left of their career.Or they could be thankful that the men's game is subsidising theirs...
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@antipodean You could say the same of the Under 20s ...
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@crucial said in 2021 New Zealand U20s:
I like the pathway aspect but would say that the Black Ferns players will see this as another avenue for NZR to sink money into the men’s game while putting SFA effort into the women.
I know it’s more complicated than that but the visuals are that they are putting no effort into finding an avenue for the women to even play let alone develop strength yet are happy to add even more opportunities for the mens.
I d be fuming at this if I was a black fern.When women players get the crowds and sponsorship for their team. Then the rest will fall into place
the U20s are only being supported of course as these players are the future for men's rugby
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@stargazer said in 2021 New Zealand U20s:
@antipodean You could say the same of the Under 20s ...
A completely different situation
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@stargazer said in 2021 New Zealand U20s:
@antipodean You could say the same of the Under 20s ...
How? The men's game was amateur for over a century and is currently bankrolled by the highest representative team. To remain successful requires highly competitive base. It's an investment in itself for the betterment of the entire New Zealand rugby community.
If the Black Ferns were in a position to spend some of their largesse on developing female pathways I'd make the same argument. But they're not and with limited resources NZR need to determine their best use.
