New Zealand Under 20 squad named for Oceania tournament

The New Zealand Under 20 squad to travel to the Gold Coast, Australia this month for the Oceania Under 20 tournament, has been named.

The squad is

Forwards: 
Ayden Johnstone  - Waikato
Mason Kean - Hawke’s Bay
Shaun Stodart - Otago
Sean Paranihi - Canterbury              
Alex Fidow - Wellington              
Pouri Rakete-Stones  - Hawkes Bay
Leni Apisai, captain - Wellington/Hurricanes          
Asafo Aumua  - Wellington            
Hamish Dalzell - Canterbury
Quinten Strange  - Tasman           
Sam Caird  - Waikato               
Isaia Walker-Leawere - Wellington  
Fin Hoeata  - Taranaki              
Mitchell Jacobson  - Waikato          
Luke Jacobson   - Waikato        
Dalton Papali’i   - Auckland         
Hapakuki Moala- Liava'a   - North Harbour     
Marino Mikaele Tu'u - Hawke’s Bay       

Backs:
Jonathan Taumateine  - Counties-Manukau 
Sam Nock  - Northland/Blues             
TJ Va’a   - Wellington/Hurricanes           
Stephen Perofeta  - Taranaki         
Jordie Barrett   - Canterbury         
Patelesio Tomkinson - Otago/Highlanders      
Orbyn Leger  - Counties Manukau                
Jonah Lowe    - Hawke’s Bay             
Malo Tuitama    - Wellington       
Peter Umaga Jensen    - Wellington     
Mason Emerson  - Hawke’s Bay           
Jordan Trainor   - Waikato/Blues          
Caleb Makene  - Canterbury

Note: one player to be added prior to assembly in Auckland

Not considered due to Super Rugby Commitments: 
Shaun Stevenson - Waikato

Players not considered due to injury: 
Matthew Lansdown - Waikato
Jahrome Brown - Waikato
Hugh Renton - Hawke’s Bay
Ere Enari - Canterbury
Harrison Levien - Waikato    
Lisati Milo-Harris - Auckland

New Zealand Under 20 Head Coach Scott Robertson said that he was pleased with the talent available for the tournament which will see them play two Test matches against Australia early next month.

“The trial matches that we held last month were incredibly valuable for us as selectors and we got to see the players in that intense game environment, and we got to see how they responded to the pressure of playing and competing for places.

“While there are only the two countries, we have two tough test matches against a strong Australian team in this Oceania tournament.  These will also provide us with a valuable sense of how they cope with playing intense matches in a compact window,” he said.

Hurricanes hooker Leni Apisai has been named captain of the side.

“Leni is just an impressive young man who leads a pack well on the field.  He has already shown a maturity beyond his years, in the way he has stepped up to starting for the Hurricanes when veteran hookers Dane Coles and Motu Matu’u were ruled out injured at the start of the season.”

The New Zealand Under 20 squad to compete in the World Rugby Under 20 Championship will be named in May after the Oceania squad returns to New Zealand.

The squad assembles in Auckland on 24 April and will play a match against the Blues Development XV on 28 April, before travelling to the Gold coast for matches against Australia on 3 and 7 May.