Seven Auckland Rugby players selected in New Zealand Under 20 Squad


Photo: Brett Phibbs / www.photosport.nz

Seven Auckland Rugby players have been selected in the New Zealand Under 20 squad for 2021.

Sione Ahio, Vaiolini Ekuasi, Corey Evans, Josh Fusitua, Meihana Grindlay, Manu Paea and Soane Vikena have been included in the team that is planned to play a number of games within Oceania this year.

Check out the full squad and New Zealand Rugby media release below:

 

New Zealand Under 20 Head Coach Tabai Matson has today named 30 players in the 2021 national squad.

The squad features several players with Super Rugby experience, and more than half have graduated from the New Zealand Schools programme.

Matson said the level of talent on display at the Bunnings Super Rugby Aotearoa Under 20 tournament meant selectors had tough decisions to make.

“The talent we saw in Taupō was outstanding. We have a real range of players; for some guys this will be their first black jersey and the culmination of a lot of years of hard work and then there’s guys like Ruben Love who has been starting at first five for the Hurricanes.

“There are also some very good rugby players that went close but have missed out and I have no doubt will go on to be very good rugby players,” said Matson.

The Under 20 schedule for 2021 is yet to be confirmed but Matson said they are hopeful for some Oceania matches.

“The aim is two-fold, I have a clear remit to develop professional rugby players and our group of coaches need to provide a platform for these players to go to the next level, but also whenever you put on a black jersey there is expectation that you perform well so we really want to do that.”

Among the 30 players selected are five who have featured in Super Rugby Aotearoa, Chay Fihaki (Crusaders), Gideon Wrampling (Chiefs), Josh Lord (Chiefs), Ruben Love (Hurricanes and Soane Vikena (Blues). 12 players NPC.

 

The New Zealand Under 20 squad is;

Names

Province

Sione Ahio

Auckland

Vaiolini Ekuasi

Auckland

Corey Evans

Auckland

Josh Fusitua

Auckland

Meihana Grindlay

Auckland

Manu Paea

Auckland

Soane Vikena

Auckland

George Bell

Canterbury

Chay Fihaki

Canterbury

Zach Gallagher

Canterbury

Dom Gardiner

Canterbury

Jack Sexton

Canterbury

Harry Godfrey

Hawkes Bay

Joseph Gavigan

Manawatu

TK Howden

Manawatu

Nathan Hastie

Otago

Fabian Holland

Otago

Sean Withy

Otago

Josh Lord

Taranaki

Nathaniel Peters

Taranaki

Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens

Taranaki

Luca Inch

Tasman

Anton Segner

Tasman

Tepaea Cook-Savage

Waikato

Cortez Lee-Ratima

Waikato

Gideon Wrampling

Waikato

Riley Higgins

Wellington

Peter Lakai

Wellington

Ruben Love

Wellington

Aidan Morgan

Wellington

 

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