Under 20 hopefuls in final push for World Cup squad selection

Mar 7 • General News, Junior Rugby • 1493 Views • Comments Off on Under 20 hopefuls in final push for World Cup squad selection

Preparation for the World Rugby Under 20 Championship kicks into action in Palmerston North this week with 46 players selected for the first trial camp of the year.

The camp begins on Thursday with a tight five clinic led by All Blacks scrum guru Mike Cron, before all players assemble for a five-day programme. Two trial teams will be selected to play Hurricanes Development and a Wellington XV on Saturday 10 March.

Players selected to attend the trial camp are:

Forwards
John Akau’ola-Laula	Auckland
Sione Asi	Manawatu
Suetena Asomua	Counties Manukau
Tom Christie	Canterbury
Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta	Tasman
Rob Cobb	Auckland
Devan Flanders	Hawkes Bay
Tom Florence	Taranaki
Brayden Iose	Manawatu
Ricky Jackson	Otago
Joe Johnson	Bay of Plenty
Josh Kaho	Waikato
Tevita Mafileo	Bay of Plenty
Slade McDowall	Otago
Sam Moli	Tasman
Jeriah Mua	Bay of Plenty
Xavier Numia	Wellington
Taine Plumtree	Wellington
Waimana Riedlinger-Kapa	Auckland
Matene Ruawai	Manawatu
Ben Sa’u	Auckland
Bradley Slater	Taranaki
Flynn Thomas	Southland
Will Tucker	Canterbury
Kaliopasi Uluilakepa	Wellington
Tupou Vaa’i	Taranaki
Stan van den Hoven	Bay of Plenty

Backs:
Leicester Faingaanuku	Tasman
Scott Gregory	Northland
Jack Grooby	Tasman
Ciarahn Matoe	Taranaki
Raymond Nu’u	Canterbury
Rupena Parkinson	Tasman
Harry Plummer	Auckland
Rameka Poihipi	Canterbury
Carlos Price	Wellington
Billy Proctor	Wellington
Ngane Punivai	Canterbury
Jay Renton	Southland
Xavier Roe	Waikato
Jamie Spowart	Tasman
Bailyn Sullivan	Waikato
Tanielu Tele’a	Auckland
Kaleb Trask	Bay of Plenty
Ueta Tufuga	Manawatu
Quinn Tupaea	Waikato

Not Considered due to Super Rugby or Sevens commitments

Caleb Clarke	Blues
Will Jordan	Crusaders
Vilimoni Koroi	All Blacks Sevens

Not considered due to injury

Jacob Devery	Hawke’s Bay
Tim Farrell	Hawke’s Bay
Laghlan McWhannell	Waikato
Ajay Mua	Bay of Plenty
Hoskins Sotutu	Auckland
Cameron Suafoa	Auckland
Sione Talitui	Auckland
Sheldon Tovio	Waikato
Will Tremain	Hawke’s Bay

New Zealand Under 20 Head Coach Craig Philpott has taken a fulltime role with New Zealand Rugby in 2018 which expands his appointment beyond just the World Championship campaign.

Philpott said this camp is an important component in building the squad.

“We had these players in camp in December for some testing and to set expectations and goals. This week we get to see how they have progressed over the summer months and really start building towards June.”

The squad features several players who had been involved in the 2017 wider squad, while six players have been recognised for their performances in the New Zealand Schools’ campaign late last year. A further camp for the New Zealand Under 20 squad will be held in April, before taking part in the Oceania Tournament on the Gold Coast in April and May. A squad of 28 will be selected to go to the Under 20 World Championship in France from 25 May – 18 June 2017.

The New Zealand Under 20 team have won six of the ten World Rugby Under 20 Championships, most recently beating England in the 2017 final 64-17. From the 2017 team, Asafo Aumua has gone on to debut for the All Blacks against the Barbarians in November while Caleb Clarke has played two tournaments for the All Blacks Sevens at the beginning of this year.