New Zealand Under 20 hopefuls in trial camp

New Zealand Under 20 hopefuls in trial camp

Forty nine players have assembled for a trial camp in Palmerston North as selectors narrow their search for the next New Zealand Under 20 squad to defend their World Championship title.

New Zealand Under 20 Head Coach Scott Robertson said players have arrived in camp fit and excited at the prospect of trialling in two games tomorrow.

“We’ve already been able to watch a lot of these guys playing for their development teams and that’s been really helpful. This trial camp is a good opportunity for us to see the players in this competitive environment and it gives us a good chance to see what they can do in 80 minutes,” he said.

“We’ve got a lot of young players, some straight out of school, who could qualify to play next year as well, so that’s exciting. Our focus will be to select a squad to play in the Oceania Under 20 tournament in May, before we select our squad for the World Championship.”

The World Rugby Under 20 Championship will this year be held in Manchester, England from 7-25 June.

The Oceania Under 20 tournament will be played in Australia from 29 April -8 May.

The players selected for the trial camp are:

Forwards
Jonah Aoina Ayden Johnstone Mason Kean Shaun Stoddart Sean Paranihi Joe Apikotoa Alex Fidow Sosefo Kautai Sekope Lopeti Asafo Aumua Max Fryatt Romero Tagi Hamish Dalzell Quinten Strange Manaaki Selby-Rickit Sam Caird Isaia Walker-Leawere Paripari Parkinson Lui Luamanu Finn Hoeata Charlie Gamble Mitchell Jacobson Luke Jacobson Dalton Papali’i Nathan Tweedy Hapakuki Moala-Liava’a Marino Mikaele Tu’u Martin Brink	Otago Waikato Hawke’s Bay Otago Canterbury Wellington Wellington Waikato Waikato Wellington Hawke’s Bay Auckland Canterbury Tasman Manawatu Waikato Wellington Tasman Wellington Taranaki Canterbury Waikato Waikato Auckland Manawatu North Harbour Hawke’s Bay North Harbour
Backs
Liam Howley Logan Crowley Jonathan Taumateine Brett Cameron Matthew Lansdown TJ Va’a Stephen Perofeta Orbyn Leger Alex Nankivell Jordie Barrett Lester Maulolo Amanaki Savieti Pepe Patafilo Gene Te Amo Jonah Lowe Shelford Murray Mason Emerson Jordan Trainor Caleb Makene Peter Umaga-Jensen Josh McKay	Southland Canterbury Counties Manukau Canterbury Waikato Wellington Taranaki Counties- Manukau Tasman Canterbury Wellington Waikato Wellington Counties Manukau Hawke’s Bay Waikato Hawke’s Bay Waikato Canterbury Wellington Canterbury

Not considered due to Super Rugby Commitments:
Leni Apisai, Wellington
Sio Tomkinson, Otago
Shaun Stevenson, Waikato
Sam Nock, Northland

Players not considered due to injury:
Hayden Spencer, Waikato
Hugh Renton, Hawke’s Bay
Ere Enari, Canterbury
Sam Ulufonua, Auckland
Harrison Levien, Waikato
Lisati Milo-Harris, Auckland
Malo Tuitama, Wellington
Jahrome Brown, Waikato