2018 New Zealand U20s

A total 52 young players have been selected to attend the New Zealand Under 20 Development Camp as coach Craig Philpott begins preparation for the 2018 World Rugby Under 20 Championship.

Players selected to attend the development camp in Palmerston North from 3-9 December 2017 are: 

Forwards
John Akau'ola-Laula - Auckland
Sione Asi - Manawatu
Suetena Asomua - Counties Manukau
Tom Christie - Canterbury
Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta - Ta$man
Rob Cobb - Auckland
Jacob Devery - Hawkes Bay
Sosaia Fale - Waikato
Tim Farrell - Hawkes Bay
Devan Flanders - Hawkes Bay
Tom Florence - Taranaki
Brayden Iose - Manawatu
Ricky Jackson - Otago
Joe Johnson - Bay of Plenty
Josh Kaho - Waikato
Tevita Mafileo - Bay of Plenty
Slade McDowall - Otago
Laghlan McWhannell - Waikato
Sam Moli - Ta$man
Ajay Mua - Bay of Plenty
Xavier Numia - Wellington
Waimana Reidlinger-Kapa - Auckland
Ben Sa'u - Auckland
Bradley Slater - Taranaki
Hoskins Sotutu - Auckland
Cameron Suafoa - Auckland
Sione Talitui - Auckland
Flynn Thomas - Southland
Will Tucker - Canterbury
Kaliopasi Uluilakepa - Wellington
Tupou Va'ai - Taranaki
Ricky Van Der Heyden - Bay of Plenty

Backs
Wiseguy Faiane- Auckland
Leicester Faingaanuku - Ta$man
Scott Gregory - Northland
Jack Grooby - Ta$man
Ciarahn Matoe - Taranaki
Rupena Parkinson - Ta$man
Harry Plummer - Auckland
Rameka Poihipi - Canterbury
Carlos Price - Wellington
Billy Proctor - Wellington
Ngane Punivai - Canterbury
Jay Renton - Southland
Xavier Roe - Waikato
Jamie Spowart - Ta$man
Bailyn Sullivan - Waikato
Tanielu Tele'a - Auckland
Danny Toala - Hawkes Bay
Salyn Tonu'u - North Harbour
Sheldon Tovio - Waikato
Kaleb Trask - Bay of Plenty

Not considered due to Super Rugby or Sevens commitments: Caleb Clarke (Auckland), Will Jordan ( Ta$man), Vilimoni Koroi (Otago).

Not considered due to injury: Will Tremain (Hawke's Bay), Raymond Nu'u (Canterbury).

Selected players by province:

Auckland (11): John Akau'ola-Laula, Rob Cobb, Waimana Reidlinger-Kapa, Ben Sa'u, Hoskins Sotutu, Cameron Suafoa, Sione Talitui, Wiseguy Faiane, Harry Plummer, Tanielu Tele'a, [Caleb Clarke]
Bay of Plenty (5): Joe Johnson, Tevita Mafileo, Ajay Mua, Ricky Van Der Heyden, Kaleb Trask
Counties (1): Suetena Asomua
Canterbury (5): Tom Christie, Will Tucker, Rameka Poihipi, Ngane Punivai, [ Raymond Nu'u]
Hawke's Bay (5): Jacob Devery, Tim Farrell, Devan Flanders, Danny Toala, [Will Tremain]
Manawatu (2): Sione Asi, Brayden Iose
North Harbour (1): Salyn Tonu'u
Northland (1): Scott Gregory,
Otago (3): Ricky Jackson, Slade McDowall, [Vilimoni Koroi]
Southland (2): Flynn Thomas, Jay Renton
Taranaki (4) Tom Florence, Bradley Slater, Tupou Va'ai, Ciarahn Matoe
Ta$man (7): Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta, Sam Moli, Leicester Faingaanuku, Jack Grooby, Rupena Parkinson, Jamie Spowart, [Will Jordan]
Waikato (6) Sosaia Fale, Josh Kaho, Laghlan McWhannell, Xavier Roe, Bailyn Sullivan, Sheldon Tovio
Wellington (4): Xavier Numia, Kaliopasi Uluilakepa, Carlos Price, Billy Proctor

For some reason, I expected more players from the NZ Schools team.
For example, I miss players from Hastings Boys like Lincoln McClutchie, Folau Fakatava and others; Rivez Reihana from SKC etc, but maybe they are still too young? Maybe they'll be playing U19s first in 2018?

Bugger, Taranaki have recruited Tupou Va'ai from Wesley/Counties. I was hoping he would join the Counties Academy.

Who are sons of former Pro players?

Hoskins Sotutu
Salyn Tonu'u?
Rupena Parkinson?

@stargazer

Reihana is from SKC.

Waikato is under-represented given they made the U19 final again. I thought the 1st 5 Coombes-Fabling played very well in the tournament.

@bovidae said in 2018 New Zealand U20s:

@stargazer

Reihana is from SKC.

Waikato is under-represented given they made the U19 final again. I thought the 1st 5 Coombes-Fabling played very well in the tournament.

Cheers, yes, was thinking about the right player, but the wrong Top 4 game.

@mikedogz said in 2018 New Zealand U20s:

Who are sons of former Pro players?

Hoskins Sotutu
Salyn Tonu'u?
Rupena Parkinson?

Brad Slater is Andy's son. I saw him play at hooker for NPBHS a few times and didn't rate him.

hopefully Reihana comes back here when he steps into Provincial rugby!

@stargazer said in 2018 New Zealand U20s:

Not considered due to Super Rugby or Sevens commitments: Caleb Clarke (Auckland), Will Jordan ( Ta$man), Vilimoni Koroi (Otago).

Reading between the lines, Koroi is in the NZ 7s team (no surprises) and Will Jordan is in the Crusaders (seems likely) and therefore Caleb Clarke is in the Blues or NZ 7s?

@wurzel Caleb Clarke was announced as a Blues signing a couple of months back - along with Dalton Papalii

@mikedogz

Salyn Tonu'u is Junior Tonu'u's son. He plays halfback, and apparently was the star of the NH U19 team this year (finished 3rd).

@mikedogz said in 2018 New Zealand U20s:

Who are sons of former Pro players?

Hoskins Sotutu
Salyn Tonu'u?
Rupena Parkinson?

I think I remember a Van Der Heyden for BoP in late 80s / early 90s. Played No8 i think, or may have been a different dutch sounding name?

(not pro then though .......)

Good squad, some depth there.
as for 10s like McCluthie, Reihana (Only y12), Waikato first five, we just happen to have talent there, Last two years schools first 5s who have played mitre10 Wiseguy, Plummer and my pick Matoe.
Like the athletes in the forwards, but agin it will be the set-piece that dictates the success of the group.

As is the way a number of this squad will not make it to the next stage and those not pick will find there way in for march, especially this years schools players. You always find that the Feb/March camps is more accurate as they pick players who have had super squad exposure and super development games. I think they selectors want to see them play up a level before choosing current school players.

@rapido said in 2018 New Zealand U20s:

@mikedogz said in 2018 New Zealand U20s:

Who are sons of former Pro players?

Hoskins Sotutu
Salyn Tonu'u?
Rupena Parkinson?

I think I remember a Van Der Heyden for BoP in late 80s / early 90s. Played No8 i think, or may have been a different dutch sounding name?

(not pro then though .......)

I think you're thinking of Steve van der Leeden who was number eight for BOP 1989-1990.
His father Ernest was fullback for BOP 1968.

I expected Alaimalo, Dyer, Ah Kuoi, Funaki, Tupaea and Etene Nanai to make the squad. They had been very impressive for the NZ Schoolboys in September. Still too young ?

@cgrant Yeah, that's what I thought when I said that I expected more players from the NZ Schools team. I think many of them will probably play U19s in 2018, and only a few will make the U20 squad.

@stargazer said in 2018 New Zealand U20s:

Auckland (11): John Akau'ola-Laula, Rob Cobb, Waimana Reidlinger-Kapa, Ben Sa'u, Hoskins Sotutu, Cameron Suafoa, Sione Talitui, Wiseguy Faiane, Harry Plummer, Tanielu Tele'a, [Caleb Clarke]
Bay of Plenty (5): Joe Johnson, Tevita Mafileo, Ajay Mua, Ricky Van Der Heyden, Kaleb Trask
Counties (1): Suetena Asomua
Canterbury (5): Tom Christie, Will Tucker, Rameka Poihipi, Ngane Punivai, [ Raymond Nu'u]
Hawke's Bay (5): Jacob Devery, Tim Farrell, Devan Flanders, Danny Toala, [Will Tremain]
Manawatu (2): Sione Asi, Brayden Iose
North Harbour (1): Salyn Tonu'u
Northland (1): Scott Gregory,
Otago (3): Ricky Jackson, Slade McDowall, [Vilimoni Koroi]
Southland (2): Flynn Thomas, Jay Renton
Taranaki (4) Tom Florence, Bradley Slater, Tupou Va'ai, Ciarahn Matoe
Ta$man (7): Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta, Sam Moli, Leicester Faingaanuku, Jack Grooby, Rupena Parkinson, Jamie Spowart, [Will Jordan]
Waikato (6) Sosaia Fale, Josh Kaho, Laghlan McWhannell, Xavier Roe, Bailyn Sullivan, Sheldon Tovio
Wellington (4): Xavier Numia, Kaliopasi Uluilakepa, Carlos Price, Billy Proctor

The ones in bold all played Mitre 10 Cup this year except for Ngani Punivai who played in Canterbury's Ranfurly Shield defence v Wanganui.

@98blueandgold

I've heard good things about Matoe. He spent most of the season playing club rugby for Hautapu in the Waikato.

@number-10 said in 2018 New Zealand U20s:

@stargazer said in 2018 New Zealand U20s:

Auckland (11): John Akau'ola-Laula, Rob Cobb, Waimana Reidlinger-Kapa, Ben Sa'u, Hoskins Sotutu, Cameron Suafoa, Sione Talitui, Wiseguy Faiane, Harry Plummer, Tanielu Tele'a, [Caleb Clarke]
Bay of Plenty (5): Joe Johnson, Tevita Mafileo, Ajay Mua, Ricky Van Der Heyden, Kaleb Trask
Counties (1): Suetena Asomua
Canterbury (5): Tom Christie, Will Tucker, Rameka Poihipi, Ngane Punivai, [ Raymond Nu'u]
Hawke's Bay (5): Jacob Devery, Tim Farrell, Devan Flanders, Danny Toala, [Will Tremain]
Manawatu (2): Sione Asi, Brayden Iose
North Harbour (1): Salyn Tonu'u
Northland (1): Scott Gregory,
Otago (3): Ricky Jackson, Slade McDowall, [Vilimoni Koroi]
Southland (2): Flynn Thomas, Jay Renton
Taranaki (4) Tom Florence, Bradley Slater, Tupou Va'ai, Ciarahn Matoe
Ta$man (7): Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta, Sam Moli, Leicester Faingaanuku, Jack Grooby, Rupena Parkinson, Jamie Spowart, [Will Jordan]
Waikato (6) Sosaia Fale, Josh Kaho, Laghlan McWhannell, Xavier Roe, Bailyn Sullivan, Sheldon Tovio
Wellington (4): Xavier Numia, Kaliopasi Uluilakepa, Carlos Price, Billy Proctor

The ones in bold all played Mitre 10 Cup this year except for Ngani Punivai who played in Canterbury's Ranfurly Shield defence v Wanganui.

I think Christie has played a few minutes against Ta$man during the Mitre 10 Cup final.