2024 Super Rugby U20s

The Fiji Rugby Union has today released the names of the Fiji U20 Extended Squad, for the 2024 season.

The Fiji Under 20 will take part in the Junior World Championship in Cape Town from the 25th of June to the 20th of July.

The Under 20s have also been reinvited to compete in the Bunnings Super Rugby Under 20s Competition that will be held in Taupo New Zealand from the 18th to the 24th of March.

A few players with current NZ links, as well as a couple of locks based in France are on the list. Interesting to see Breyton Legge named as he was also part of the NZ U19 Development camp last month.

@Bovidae Isaia Armstrong-Ravula's younger brother Moses (a hooker) is also in that list.

To be played at North Harbour.

2024 OCEANIA RUGBY U20s CHALLENGE TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
ROUND 1, Tuesday 27th February 2024
Game 1: Junior Manu Samoa v Moana Pasifika U20
Game 2: Fiji Rugby U20's v Tonga Rugby Union U20

ROUND 2, Saturday 2nd March 2024
Game 1: Fiji Rugby U20 v Moana Pasifika U20
Game 2: Junior Manu Samoa v Tonga Rugby Union U20

ROUND 3, Wednesday 6th March 2024
Game 1: Tonga Rugby Union U20 v Moana Pasifika U20
Game 2: Junior Manu Samoa v Fiji Rugby U20

Essendon Tuitupou returns...

I see that these games are live on Sky. MP beat Samoa 27-20. Fiji and Tonga play next.

Watching a bit of the Fiji-Tonga game, the Fijian pack has a 76 kg weight advantage. I can't remember a game where there has been such a big difference. No surprise that Fiji is dominating the scrums.

The other result in Rd 1 was:

Fiji U20 39-25 Tonga U20 (HT: 29-3)

Round 2 is today and live on SS3.

Fiji vs Moana Pasifika - 3 pm
Tonga vs Samoa - 5:30 pm

Any ideas on where to find the programme for the upcoming Super Rugby Under 20's tournament in Taupo - I think it's due to start on or around 14th March???

@Mikesnan

I checked the website and found this:

Round 2
Fiji 48-19 Moana Pasifika
Tonga 14-40 Samoa

Round 3
Tonga 33-31 Moana Pasifika
Samoa 17-31 Fiji

Fiji U20s win the tournament and will participate in the WR U20 Championship in June/July.
Samoa U20s qualify for the WR U20 Trophy tournament in July.

I read that eight of the Samoa U20 players have been selected to play for the Moana Pasifika U20s in the SR U20 tournament. I assume that some Tongan players will also make the squad, so the MP U20s should be stronger. The Blues U20s will beat them comfortably though.

The Blues U20s and Chiefs U20s play their traditional warm-up game at Massey RFC today (1 pm). I haven't seen any team lists.

All squads for Taupō should be announced next week.

The Chiefs U20s beat the Blues U20s 33-12.

Here is a photo of the players from the BOP Rugby FB page.

The Blues have named their squad. Some of these players were in the NZ U20s last year so will likely be selected again.

Most of the out of town names were signaled in advance, with the exception of Shaun Kempton a hooker out of Rolleston. An article talked about how his dad sadly died last year prior to him eing named in the NZ Schools team in a workplace accident. Another said he had a spot lined in the Crusaders academy. Interesting he ended up down at the Highlanders. But looks like he was born in Invercargill.

Highlanders John Jones Steel Under 20’s Team:

Hunter Areaiiti Burgess

Southland Boys High School

Josh Augustine

Napier Boys High School

Charlie Breen

John McGlashan College

Keegan Ferguson

John McGlashan College

Jayton (JJ) Fisher

Southland Boys High School

Quinten Holland

King's High School

Shaun Kempton

Rolleston College

A-One Lolofie

Hastings Boys High School

Stan McClure

John McGlashan College

Liam McIntosh

Southland Boys High School

Samuel Nemec-Vial

King's High School

Reuben Palmer

Tauranga Boys College

Wyndham Patuawa

Hamilton Boys High School

Eric Peita

Otago Boys High School

Dylan Pledger

King's High School

Kyan Rangitutia

St John's, Hamilton

Max Ratcliffe

Napier Boys High School

Gregor Rutledge

Southland Boys High School

Justin Shaw

Southland Boys High School

Moana Takataka

Otago Boys High School

Taitelea Tasi-Cordtz

Otago Boys High School

Josh Tengblad

Sacred Heart College

Oliver Thode

Otago Boys High School

William Thode

Otago Boys High School

Jack Timu

John McGlashan College

Josh Whaanga (Captain)

John McGlashan College

Caleb Williams

Southland Boys High School

University of Waikato Chiefs U20s squad: (player, position, province)
Aisake Vakasiuola, Blindside Flanker, Bay of Plenty
Andrew Smith, Blindside Flanker, Waikato
Aoturoa Seeling, Loose Head Prop, Bay of Plenty
Apai Ma'u hinkes, Tighthead Prop, Counties Manukau
Breyton Legge, Loose Head Prop, Waikato
Brooke Mitchell, Openside Flanker, Bay of Plenty
Daniel Tickelpenny, First Five, Waikato
Dylan Eti, Lock, Waikato
Faauma Kupita, Tighthead Prop, Bay of Plenty
Fletcher Carpenter, Halfback, Bay of Plenty
Frank Vaenuku, Left Wing, Bay of Plenty
Giancarlo Tuivailala, Centre, Waikato
Grady Forbes, Openside Flanker, Bay of Plenty
Hone Mathieson, First Five, Taranaki
Joey Taumateine, No.8, Counties Manukau
Jole Naufahu, Fullback, Waikato
Joshua Brunger, Centre, Waikato
Kase Meyer, Second Five, Bay of Plenty
Micah Fale, Openside Flanker, Waikato
Oli Mathis, Openside Flanker, Waikato
Rui Farrant, Halfback, Waikato
Sione Tupou, Hooker, Bay of Plenty
Tai Cribb, Lock, Waikato
Tom McCarthy, Hooker, Waikato
Topia Barrowcliffe, Halfback, Taranaki
Waisake Salabiau, Right Wing, Waikato
Will Martin, Loose Head Prop, Waikato

A good set of loose forwards in the Chiefs squad even without Wrampling.

Frank Vaenuku was in the NZ Schools team from De La Salle College, so has moved to BOP from Auckland.

Stanley Solomon would be my pick to be the NZ U20 1st 5. He's a similar size to Morgan but I have been impressed when I've seen him play live. He was also outstanding in the Global Youth Sevens tournament last year. Speed to burn.

@Bovidae I’ve seen him play for Petone a couple times on the wing and he’s got plenty of gas. Almost Corey Toole sort of speed so hopefully you’re right and he gets a crack at first five. Sam Coles, Vernon Bason, Jack O’Brien and Tom Allen all trained with the Canes pre season so there seems to be plenty of talent in that side. Funaki also played for the French Under 20s side so it’s interesting that he’s in this side aswell.