2021 NZ Schools
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Dates for this year's test matches:
Update on New Zealand Schools’ Rugby Programme 2021The New Zealand Schools Rugby Union have also confirmed the itinerary for the NZ Schools international series with Australia U18 and Fiji U18 Schools.
It's a pity they don't include NZ Maori U18 in this itinerary; I assume they'll play games as well, just like in previous years. -
Anyone keen?
NZ Schools & NZ Barbarians Schools - Assistant Coach Appointments - NZ RUGBY
If you're from Wellington, please, don't apply.
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If Hammett is still the coach I wouldn't bother.
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@stargazer F%&k Hammett
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@stargazer said in 2021 NZ Schools:
Anyone keen?
NZ Schools & NZ Barbarians Schools - Assistant Coach Appointments - NZ RUGBY
If you're from Wellington, please, don't apply.
There didn't seem to be an application form for 'giving uneducated advice from the sideline' so I won't bother this time.
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I expect the selection of players for U18 camps in the franchise areas is the road to selection for the NZ Schools teams - assuming they'll do the same as last year and select a Haden XV and Whetton XV first.
What I hope is that - unlike last year - these Haden and Whetton teams are selected after the camps and not before, so that performance during the camps plays a role. Otherwise, we will again see some of the best players missing out, because the selectors in the main centres haven't seen enough of the players outside the main centres and just pick their local favourites.
The players selected for the 2021 Junior Crusaders Camp are:Angus Hammett (Christ’s College)
Bede Fisher (Timaru Boys’ High School)
Ben Bartlett (Timaru Boys’ High School)
Ben Lefale (Nelson College)
Ben O’Donovan (St Bede’s College)
Cam Rawlings (St Bede’s College)
Cody Lokotui (Scots College)
Cooper Roberts (Marlborough Boys’ College)
Cullen Gray (Auckland Grammar School)
Deijdre Siaki (Shirley Boys’ High School)
Dylan Irvine (Nelson College)
Emmanuel Fruean (Shirley Boys’ High School)
Fletcher Joyce (Timaru Boys’ High School)
Hendrix Taylor (Christ’s College)
Hugh Cameron (Timaru Boys’ High School)
Hunter Leppien (Nelson College)
Isaac Hutchinson (St Bede’s College)
Jack Belcher (Christ’s College)
Jack Coulthard (St Thomas of Canterbury College)
Jack Jones (Christ’s College)
Jackson Meecham (Christchurch Boys’ High School)
Jackson Wright (St Bede’s College)
Jacob Neha-Manihera (Nelson College)
Jade Stewart (St Kentigern’s College)
Jake Pacey (Marlborough Boys’ College)
James White (Christchurch Boys’ High School)
Jayden Sa (Christ’s College)
Johnny Lee (Christ’s College)
Liam Jack (Christ’s College)
D’angelo (Lino) Tauti (St Andrew’s College)
Lucas Mullings (Timaru Boys’ High School)
Manumaua Letiu (Christchurch Boys’ High School)
Maeva Robati (Rangiora High School)
Mason Allison (St Bede’s College)
Netani Baleisomosomo (Nelson College)
Nicholas Sauira (Nelson College)
Nick Shearer (Christ’s College)
Noah Saukuru (Christchurch Boys’ High School)
Oliver Inch (Nelson College)
Reece Henderson (Lincoln University Rugby Club)
Regan Jones (Christchurch Boys’ High School)
Richie Tupuailei (St. Thomas of Canterbury College)
Riley Brewis (Christchurch Boys’ High School)
Sean Rutherford-Bradford (Christ’s College)
Suliasi Faiva (St Bede’s College)
Tahlor Cahill (Hamilton Boys’ High School)
Tai Pangai (Timaru Boys’ High School)
Tevita Faitotonu (St Thomas of Canterbury College)
Timoci Sauira (Nelson College)
Tommy Hamilton (Selwyn Combined Schools)
Torian Barnes (St. Andrew’s College)
Vaingalo Fine (St Thomas of Canterbury College)
Wil Thornalley (Nelson College)
Will Mackenzie (Marlborough Boys’ College)
Will Stodart (St. Andrew’s College)
Wider Training Group:Campbell Allison (St Bede’s College)
Joshua Dunlea (Rakaia Rugby Football Club)
Anton Marshall (Christ’s College)
Callum Summerfield (Christ’s College)
Maretino Kaloudau (St Thomas of Canterbury College)
Unavailable for selection:Tanner Stowers-Smith (St Bede’s College)
The 2021 Junior Crusaders coaching group is as follows:Head Coach – Jason Ryan
Lead Coach (Attack) - Andy Gibson
Lead Coach (Defence) - Johnny Leo’o
Set Piece Coach – Simon Gunn
Skills Coach – Matt MacDougall
Assistant Coach (Attack) - Jake Mangin
At the conclusion of the camp, a 26-strong squad will be named to play the Highlanders Under 18 side on Friday 15th October in Timaru.
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@Stargazer I guess it is up to each organisation how they manage selections. Some places were still going through selection trials when COVID hit.
Some will use favouritism/ knowledge others may still run a trial. Some will lean on union selections and identification. eg Highlanders can draw on development sides from Otago and Southland who have had some games. -
@crucial In 2020, the franchise U20 camps were held in the week of 28 September. The 2020 New Zealand Barbarians Under 18 squad from which the Haden XV and Whetton XV teams were picked, was named on 23 September, so before all camps took place.
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My understanding is that there are "selectors" around the country who focus on different positions and then submit a list of players to be considered, likely independent of these U18 teams.
Apart from not knowing who these selectors are, the other question is how widely they look at 1st XV games and the regional bias of said selectors.
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Chiefs U18 camp
Young talent from Chiefs region selected for University of Waikato Under 18 Camp | Chiefs Rugby
An abundance of young players have been selected from across Chiefs Country to attend the annual University of Waikato Chiefs Region Under 18 Development Camp.
An abundance of talented young rugby players have been selected from across Chiefs Country to attend the annual University of Waikato Chiefs Region Under 18 Development Camp. The camp will run from October 11 – 14 at St Paul’s Collegiate School in Hamilton.
The camp is renowned for being a key event in the pathway for local players to make the step into professional rugby in the future. There will be a large focus on skill development and Chiefs culture, before playing two matches against the Hurricanes U18 in Turangi on Friday October 15.
Aki Tulivailala (Hamilton Boys High School)
Amilame Finau (St John's College)
Anaru Paenga Morgan (St Paul's Collegiate)
Andrew Smith (St Peter's School, Cambridge)
Austin Anderson (Hamilton Boys High School)
Bless Perese - Elliot (Rotorua Boys High School)
Brodie Robinson (Hamilton Boys High School)
Brooke Mitchell (Rotorua Boys High School)
Che Potaka (New Plymouth Boys High School)
Cody Nordstrom (Te Awamutu Sports RFC)
Cody Vai (St Peter's School, Cambridge)
Cohen Brady-Leathem (Pukekohe High School)
Dawson Smith (St Peter's School, Cambridge)
Finlay Davenport (Mount Maunganui RFC)
Gabe Robinson (Hamilton Boys High School)
George Reeves (Hamilton Boys High School)
Grady Forbes (Tauranga Boys College)
Jack Harding (St Andrews College, Waikato)
Jacob Mitchell (New Plymouth Boys High School)
Jae Broomfield (St Paul's Collegiate)
Jai Knight (Mount Maunganui High School)
Jericho Yorke (Rotorua Boys High School)
Jonty Short (St Peter's School, Cambridge)
Josh Penney (Auckland Grammar School, Counties)
Kaleb Saxon (Hamilton Boys High School)
Keran Van Staden (Hamilton Boys High School)
Lenzs Morunga (Manurewa High School)
Liukhane De-Thierry Rhind (Pukekohe High School)
Malachi Wrampling (St Paul's Collegiate)
Manase Mouhanga (Te Awamutu Sports RFC)
Marley Murphy (Hamilton Boys High School)
Moses McGoon (Hamilton Boys High School)
Ollie Robinson (St Peter's School, Cambridge)
Patrick Howlett (New Plymouth Boys High School)
Perry Laurence (New Plymouth High School/Old Boys)
Peter Te Kahu (New Plymouth Boys High School)
Peyton Spencer (Hamilton Boys High School)
Reuben Palmer (Tauranga Boys College)
Ruban Chisolm (Te Teko RFC/Whakatane High School)
Ryan Michie (Rosehill College)
Sean Ralph (Hamilton Boys High School)
Taeo Pomale-Time (Manurewa High School)
Taha Kemara (Hamilton Boys High School)
Tai Cribb (Hamilton Boys High School)
Taine Kolosi (Rotorua Boys High School)
Tamiro Armstrong (Rotorua Boys High School)
Te Hamana Te Aute (Rotorua Boys High School)
Tiernan Sanders (St Johns College)
Toby Taylor (Tauranga Boys College)
Tom Poona (Rotorua Boys High School)
Tyler McNutt (Hautapu RFC)
Zac Macdonald (New Plymouth Boys High School)
Zinzan Hansen (University of Waikato RFC)The following players have been selected as standby players:
Adrian Wharawhara (St John's College)
Blake Christie (Francis Douglas Memorial School)
Callum Tito (New Plymouth Boys High School)
Cole McClure (Hamilton Boys High School)
Joshua Keech (Francis Douglas Memorial School)
Junior Tolutau (Wesley College)
Kash Farmer (St Peter's School, Cambridge)
Oli Mathis (Hamilton Boys High School)
Patrick Hedley (Te Kuiti High School)
Piripi Tapsell (Tauranga Boys College)
Samuela Vakadula (New Plymouth Boys High School)
Siri Rova (New Plymouth Boys High School)
Sloane Lankshear (Tauranga Boys College)
Thomas Cane (St Paul's Collegiate)
Will Martin (Hamilton Boys High School) -
I'd like to see the squads of the other regions ...
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Where / what is "St Andrews College, Waikato"? Never heard of it before.
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@rapido said in 2021 NZ Schools:
Where / what is "St Andrews College, Waikato"? Never heard of it before.
He will be at St Andrews College (STAC) but from/signed with Waikato. It is the same for the Crusaders squad which have players at Scots, AGS, St Kent's and Hamilton BHS.
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@bovidae Yep, players are included in SR U18s squads of origin, rather than current school. Saw the same thing last year.
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@stargazer This year there are also U18 players in the squads who have already left school so their club is listed.
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@bovidae Yeah, that makes it a bit more of an age grade rep team than a schools team. It will interesting to see what NZR is going to do with the actual NZ schools team selections.
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Players have been nominated for the NZS teams, so I assume the squads will be announced at some stage. They may just end up playing amongst themselves again and a "paper team" selected.
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Zinzan Hansen.
Destiny's child!
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@chris-b said in 2021 NZ Schools:
Zinzan Hansen.
Destiny's child!
Yeah, a great name.
I saw him play when I went to watch Waikato Uni in a club rugby game. I hadn't realised he was so young but he scored a 40 m try showing plenty of pace. A tall and athletic lock.
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Top schoolboy talent selected in national teams
The top schoolboy players in the country have been found with New Zealand Rugby today announcing the 2021 New Zealand Schools, New Zealand Barbarian Under 18 and New Zealand Māori Under 18 Ngā Whatukura Boys teams.
Links have the full squads.
It looks like two roughly equivalent squads rather than an A and B team.
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Having a closer look at the teams Chicago Doyle looks to be another King's College player that is heading to Wellington.
If they have selected a true NZ Schools and Barbarians squad I am really surprised to see Jeremiah Asi, Ajay Faleafaga and Sam Howling in the Barbarians team.
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@bovidae Geez, what a disappointing selections. Only two players from Hastings Boys in NZ Schools. Cooper Flanders should definitely be there as one of the best 1st XV players in the country, but some other very good players are missing! Where's Mefi Tupou? Kaihau Pasikala? Alex Dickie? And they pick a halfback that I've hardly noticed this year. Such a strong team this year and not even a single player in the other two teams.
And also only one player from Napier Boys, promising halfback Cory Berkett. Where's Afa Moleli? Gilgal Leutele Malasia?
You'll disagree, but I think some schools, including Hamilton Boys and King's College, are overrepresented if you look at the relative strenghts of the schools and talent of players. Wellington based scouts/selectors for players from the Hurricanes region, who couldn't be bothered watching Super 8 games? Why does this keep on happening, year after year?
Pasikala may possibly still have a year to go at school, so hopefully next year!
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@stargazer I said I was surprised at some of the selections, and with the year Kelston has had they are under-represented.
Even with my Hamilton BHS hat on I didn't expect so many in the NZS team. Kemara, Cahill and Spencer were obvious choices, and maybe one of the front rowers like Robinson. Anderson is a huge surprise and I thought he was going to RL.
You can go and watch the camps and see them for yourself.
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@bovidae Talking about camps. Exactly as I feared, the NZ Schools teams have again been named before the regional camps. So whatever happens in camp won't make a difference at all for NZ Schools.
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ind it interesting that Otago and the Highlander's rock star signing is in the babas. While the home grown boy who is just working away in Finn Hurley has made the top side.
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@stargazer Shit, I read this thinking Flanders had actually missed out before checking out the team itself.
I think Hamilton Boys are the Crusaders of schoolboy rugby and this will elevate a few of their players over comparable similar players.
It is interesting that a top 4 team like Hastings only manages to get two players across all three of those teams. Great coaching I guess.
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@nepia How many did Kelston get?
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@tim said in 2021 NZ Schools:
@nepia How many did Kelston get?
Sorry, I didn't count Kelston's numbers. I'll leave that for you blokes from Auckland.
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@tim said in 2021 NZ Schools:
@nepia How many did Kelston get?
2 in the NZ Schools + 2 in the Baabaas
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@nepia No Maori in the Hastings team?
St Kent's only gets a single player in the Maori U18s, and he's off to Canterbury.
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@bovidae said in 2021 NZ Schools:
@nepia No Maori in the Hastings team?
St Kent's only gets a single player in the Maori U18s, and he's off to Canterbury.
There'll be a few, clearly not good enough for the team though. I'm pretty sure Kaihau Pasikala is Maori (and Tongan).
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@nepia Clearly the wrong iwi.
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@bovidae said in 2021 NZ Schools:
@nepia Clearly the wrong iwi.
TBH, doesn't really look like an iwi based selection, plus I reckon his iwi is the same as at least three others in the team.
Clearly Hastings Boys, despite it's recent success is still seen as a backwater by the peeps in charge of schoolboy rugby and /or they clearly have the best coaches in the country as they turn these dunderheads into successful teams.
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@stargazer said in 2021 NZ Schools:
@bovidae Talking about camps. Exactly as I feared, the NZ Schools teams have again been named before the regional camps. So whatever happens in camp won't make a difference at all for NZ Schools.
saw that two. not that it will make much difference to there careers but i did laugh
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Interesting bits of that media release that some may have missed:
The Barbarian Under 18 criteria has changed in 2021 from a schoolboy’s team to Under 18, having the potential to capture players who may have missed out on representative opportunities during a fragmented season in 2020, Fisher acknowledged the New Zealand Barbarian Club for their ongoing support of schools rugby.
I assume this means that the "players who may have missed out" are all in the NZ Schools team, because they'd be the older players?
The coaches:The New Zealand Schools team is headed by the Hurricanes’ Chris Gibbes, with Gus Leger (Sacred Heart, Auckland) and Tyler Bleyendaal (Hurricanes) completing the coaching team. Fresh from leading the Black Ferns Sevens to gold in Tokyo, Allan Bunting will coach the Barbarian team, with assistant coaches Ryan Bambry (King’s High School) and James Hantz (Auckland Grammar). Kahu Carey (Rangitāne o Wairau, Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō) will coach the Under 18 Māori team alongside Simon Kneebone and Ngatai Walker (Ngāti Porou).
The games:While travel restrictions have affected an international schedule that was hoped, all three teams will assemble for a development week and play a game of three halves. The New Zealand Schools and New Zealand Barbarian Under 18s will play the curtain raiser to a Bunnings NPC match in Wellington on 8 October.
A further match for the New Zealand Māori Under 18 team, and the 2021 New Zealand Māori Under 18 Mareikura Girls team will be announced in due course.
That 8 October game, if they keep following the current schedule, will be Wellington v Canterbury.
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@stargazer said in 2021 NZ Schools:
@bovidae Geez, what a disappointing selections. Only two players from Hastings Boys in NZ Schools. Cooper Flanders should definitely be there as one of the best 1st XV players in the country, but some other very good players are missing! Where's Mefi Tupou? Kaihau Pasikala? Alex Dickie? And they pick a halfback that I've hardly noticed this year. Such a strong team this year and not even a single player in the other two teams.
And also only one player from Napier Boys, promising halfback Cory Berkett. Where's Afa Moleli? Gilgal Leutele Malasia?
You'll disagree, but I think some schools, including Hamilton Boys and King's College, are overrepresented if you look at the relative strenghts of the schools and talent of players. Wellington based scouts/selectors for players from the Hurricanes region, who couldn't be bothered watching Super 8 games? Why does this keep on happening, year after year?
Pasikala may possibly still have a year to go at school, so hopefully next year!
How many of those boys are not eligible?
I sometimes wonder why a player isn't picked from my school. Until I remember he doesn't have an NZ passport or is too old.
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@chester-draws World Rugby eligibility rules don't apply to school rugby and I don't think NZR has having NZ citizenship as a requirement. Some examples:
Folau Fakatava was also selected in 2016 (Barbarians squad), his first year playing in NZ and not having a NZ passport.
Kini Naholo in 2017 NZ Schools team.
Anton Segner in 2018 and 2019.
Fabian Holland in 2020.
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@stargazer said in 2021 NZ Schools:
Interesting bits of that media release that some may have missed:
The Barbarian Under 18 criteria has changed in 2021 from a schoolboy’s team to Under 18, having the potential to capture players who may have missed out on representative opportunities during a fragmented season in 2020, Fisher acknowledged the New Zealand Barbarian Club for their ongoing support of schools rugby.
I assume this means that the "players who may have missed out" are all in the NZ Schools team, because they'd be the older players?
If you look at the team lists it will be those players with club affiliations next to their name. Most are in the Barbarians team.
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@bovidae But they say they've changed the Barbarians team to "Under 18"? How can that include older players? I assumed those club players are boys who've left school at 17.
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@stargazer said in 2021 NZ Schools:
@bovidae But they say they've changed the Barbarians team to "Under 18"? How can that include older players? I assumed those club players are boys who've left school at 17.
Two of the Waikato players left school last year as year 13s so must have been 17 and turning 18 this year.
I think the rules are that the players can be no older than 18 as of Jan 1 but don't have to be under 18 (i.e., 17). Maybe it is just a way to avoid players repeating year 13 to try to make these teams.
The same applies in the U20s where a player can turn 20 before the tournament but are still classified as U20 if they aren't yet 20 on the cut-off date.
