First New Zealand U20 team of the year named

As part of more thorough preparations for the upcoming U20 World Cup in Italy, the New Zealand U20s are competing in an Oceania Under 20 Championship in Australia next month.

A 31-strong Junior All Blacks squad has been named for that tournament.

The squad features seven players who played in last year’s Junior World Championship in Auckland, seven contracted Investec Super Rugby players and a strong rugby pedigree.? One more player will be added to the squad before the team’s departure to the Gold Coast.

Additionally, a group of players are injured and weren’t considered for this trip.

The squad is (one player to be added):

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 (Waikato)
Mitchell Jacobson (Waikato)
Tau Koloamatangi (Waikato)
James Blackwell (Wellington)
Teariki Ben-Nicholas (Wellington)
Leni Apisai (Wellington)

Backs:

Mitchell Hunt (Auckland)
TJ Faiane (Auckland)
Vincent Tavae-Aso (Auckland)
Jonathan Faauli (Canterbury)
Jack Goodhue (Canterbury)
Geoff Bridge (Canterbury)
Luteru Laulala (Canterbury)
Otere Black (Manawatu)
Tevita Li (North Harbour)
Fletcher Smith (Otago)
Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi (Taranaki)
Harrison Levien (Waikato)
Anton Lienert-Brown (Waikato)
Wes Goosen (Wellington)

The squad for the World Rugby Under 20 Championship will be named in early May.

Oceania Under 20 Championship – Bond University, Gold Coast - Playing schedule:

Friday 1 May
1pm: New Zealand v Japan
3pm: Australia v Samoa

Tuesday 5 May
1pm: Samoa v New Zealand
3pm: Japan v Australia

Saturday 9 May
1pm: Samoa v Japan
3pm: Australia v New Zealand