Strong NZ team for Oceania
For the inaugural Oceania Under-20 Championship, New Zealand's coach Scott Robertson has been able to name a powerful squad even without three players required by Super Rugby sides.
Those excluded for Super Rugby duty are Nathaniel Apa (Crusaders), Akira Ioane (Blues), Damian McKenzie (Chiefs).
McKenzie played for New Zealand at the World Under-20 Championship in Auckland last year. There are seven other players from that team who are off to the Oceania tournament which starts on the Gold Coast on Friday - Atunaisa Moli, who is the captain, Tau Koloamatangi, Geoffrey Cridge , Tevita Li, Vincent Tavae-Aso, Anton Lienert-Brown and TJ Faiane.
Seven of the players are contracted to Super Rugby franchises - There are four Hurricanes players in lock Geoff Cridge, hooker Leni Apisai, wing Vincent Aso, flyhalf Otere Black, two from the Blues in flank Blake Gibson and wing Tevita Li, and one from the Chiefs, centre Anton Lienert-Brown.
The Oceania tournament has four sides in its first division - New Zealand, Australia, Samoa, who were in the World Under-20 Championship last year and Japan who won the World Under-20 Trophy last year. (The Division 2 teams are Cook Islands, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia, Solomon Islands and Tonga.)
New Zealand kick off the Oceania tournament against Japan, then play Samoa and finally meet Australia ion the match expected to decide the winner,
New Zealand Under-20 Squad
Forwards: Isileli Tu'ungafasi (Auckland), Liam Polwart (Auckland), Mitchell Karpik (Auckland), Blake Gibson (Auckland), Tom Hill(Canterbury), Mitchell Dunshea(Canterbury), Hamish Dalzell(Canterbury), Joshua Goodhue (Canterbury), Geoffrey Cridge (Hawke's Bay), Ricky Riccitelli (Otago), Dillon Hunt (Otago), Atunaisa Moli (captain) (Waikato), Mitchell Jacobson (Waikato), Tau Koloamatangi (Waikato), James Blackwell (Wellington), Teariki Ben-Nicholas (Wellington), Leni Apisai (Wellington).
Backs: Mitchell Hunt (Auckland), Tinoi Faiane (Auckland), Vincent Tavae-Aso (Auckland), Jonathan Fa'auli(Canterbury), Jack Goodhue(Canterbury), George Bridge(Canterbury), Luteru Laulala(Canterbury), Otere Black (Manawatu), Tevita Li (North Harbour), Fletcher Smith (Otago), Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi (Taranaki), Harrison Levien, Anton Lienert-Brown (Waikato), Wes Goosen (Wellington).
Oceania Rugby Junior Championship Fixtures, with match officials
Friday, 1 May 2015
New Zealand vs Japan at Bond University, Robina
Referee: Graham Cooper
Assistant referees: Rasta Rasivhenge , Brett Cronan
Australia vs Samoa at Bond University, Robina
Referee: Will Houston
Assistant referees: Damien Mitchelmore , Jordan Way
Tuesday, 5 May 2015
Samoa vs New Zealand
Referee: Will Houston
Assistant referees: Rohan Hoffmann, Damien Mitchelmore
Japan vs Australia
Referee: Graham Cooper
Assistant referees: Matt O'Brien, Jordan Way
Saturday, 9 May 2015
Samoa vs Japan
Referee: Ed Martin
Assistant referees: Rachel Horton, Nic Berry
Australia vs New Zealand
Referee: Damien Mitchelmore
Assistant referees: Luke Moloney, Jordan Way