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