Exciting squad named for New Zealand Under 20 development camp

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Exciting squad named for New Zealand
Under 20 development camp
Craig Philpott named new Head Coach

Forty-nine players have been selected to attend the New Zealand Under 20 development camp, as new Head Coach Craig Philpott works to identify and develop the next crop of talent to prepare for the World Rugby Under 20 Championship in Georgia next year. 10 of these players were involved in last year’s campaign.

Players selected to attend the development camp in Palmerston North from 1-7 December 2016 are:

Forwards

Backs

Not considered due to Investec Super Rugby Commitments were:

Players not considered due to injury were:

Hawkes Bay Magpies and previous New Zealand Under 20 Assistant Coach, Craig Philpott, steps up to replace Scott Robertson as the Under 20 Head Coach.

“I’m excited about this coaching opportunity. Identifying and assisting in the development of the next crop of New Zealand rugby talent is extremely rewarding,” said Philpott.

“Playing for New Zealand Under 20 can be the launch pad to a professional rugby career, and this development camp is an integral component of the player development system in this country.

“This programme is a great breeding ground for new talent to put their hand up for higher honours. 10 players from this year’s team have been selected for Investec Super Rugby squads in 2017 and 23 of the players on the Vista 2016 All Black Northern Tour have previously been part of the Under 20 programme.

“The message to the boys is clear, if you work hard and show determination you have a real chance of turning rugby into a profession. The development camp introduces them to a high-performance environment and the higher level of expectation, fitness and discipline that goes along with that.

“These players will need to work hard on their individual development plans over the summer if they want to stay in contention for the next two development camps and selection for the World championship squad to go to Georgia in May and June.”

Philpott will have two Assistant Coaches with him for the 2017 campaign.  Taranaki’s Willie Rickards has been re-appointed along with new Assistant Coach Cory Brown, Head Coach of the Otago Mitre 10 Cup team.

“Both Willie and Cory come from excellent provincial rugby environments, and I am excited about what both will bring to our campaign,” Philpott said.

“Dave Hewett has also been appointed as Scrum Coach and brings a wealth of Super Rugby experience as well as good knowledge of this group after coaching many of them in the New Zealand Schools programme.”

New Zealand Under 20 will hold further camps in March and April next year, 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 Georgia from 25 May – 18 June 2017.

The full coaching and management team for the New Zealand Under 20 squad is: