National U19 tournament Players To Watch

Over 400 of New Zealand’s leading age group rugby players will be on display at Owen Delany Park in Taupo this coming week when the fifth annual Jock Hobbs Memorial National Under 19 Tournament kicks off. In no particular order here are some names to watch out for.

Disclaimer: Squads subject to change before tournament.

Callum Harkin (Wellington) - Struggled to achieve regular game time when a member of the St Patrick's College, Silverstream First XV two years ago, but a spell in Ireland and regular minutes for the Axemen in Premier club footy has seen Harkin grow in stature. Initially a specialist halfback, Harkin covered wing in the Swindale Shield and has slotted into first-five with the Wellington Under-19’s. Harkin’s prodigious boot and growing maturity should be a great asset for the Wellington Cubs.

Kaleb Trask (Bay of Plenty) - Bay of Plenty emerged from the Chiefs region as the top seed and most prolific scorer in the country, accounting for Waikato, Counties-Manukau and Taranaki by the extraordinary score of 94-0. The first-five and fullback is a central figure in the Junior Steamers roster. He started for Bay of Plenty against Canterbury in the Mitre 10 Cup this season and additionally has appeared for the New Zealand and Chiefs Under-20 sides. In 2015, Trask was Rotorua’s leading points scorer when they won the National Top Four Championship.

Isi Manu (Auckland) - The huge loose forward was dominating First XV matches when he was a Year 11 student at Dilworth School. Prior to Manu’s arrival, Dilworth had never played 1A rugby in over a century, but while Manu was present they won 12 games in the grade in three years after earning promotion for the first time in 2015. Manu is noted for his power running, strong defence and work rate for a ‘big man.’

Harrison Boyle (Otago) - Boyle was one of the standout players for St Patrick’s College, Silverstream in 2017 when they achieved a record breaking season - scoring 982 points in 18 games of which Boyle was responsible for a team leading 132 of them. A first five with a long punt, deceptive speed and vision, Boyle has the ability to cover fullback and is a member of the Otago Rugby Academy.

Sam Cooper (Waikato) - The New Zealand Secondary Schools’ hooker was an integral part of the St Paul's Collegiate First XV who won 29 consecutive games in the Central North Island competition between 2015 and 2017. Mobility, skill and accuracy in the lineout are all hallmarks of Cooper’s game. Waikato were Graham Mourie Cup winners in 2016. This year they will contest the Michael Jones Trophy. That's no fault of Cooper who’ll be keen to push for a place in the New Zealand Under-20’s.

Cullen Grace (Canterbury) -The New Zealand Secondary Schools’ lock was captain of the Timaru Boys’ High School First XV who achieved their best ever result in the UC Championship last year, reaching the final. Grace, who additionally covers flanker, is now based at Lincoln and has continued his efficient and uncompromising forward play.

Griffin Culver (Manawatu) - Manawatu didn't win a single game in the Central Region Shield, but the Manawatu halfback from Feilding exhibited top form. A bullet pass in both directions is complemented by sound judgment and searing pace. Culver is unsurprisingly the captain of Manawatu.

Michael Loft (Taranaki) - The loose forward out of New Plymouth Boys’ High School is known for his athleticism and leadership. Loft played a key role in Taranaki’s sevens campaign, winning kickoffs, scoring and setting up tries with his strong running. Loft has replaced the injured Kaylum Boshier as Taranaki’s captain. Boshier is a Taranaki senior rugby rep and New Zealand Under-19 cricketer. Taranaki will face Wellington the first day of the Graham Mourie Cup and will be seeking a repeat of their 2015 victory.

Tamarau McGahan (North Harbour) - North Harbour upset defending champions Auckland 24-20 in the seeding tournament to qualify top of the Blues region. A big reason for their success is the leadership and aggression of Tamarau McGahan. The loose forward is vice captain and was selected in the New Zealand U18 Maori last year. McGahan is a product of the Marist club and Rosmini College who upset Westlake Boys’ High School 18-12 in the North Harbour 1A final last year. Tamarau is the son of Kiwis league great Hugh McGahan.

Jock Hobbs Memorial National Under 19 Tournament Facts

• 400 players from 16 teams
• 14 provincial union teams (one from each Mitre 10 Cup provincial union)
• 1 Auckland Development team
• 1 Heartland team (combined team with at least one player from each of the 12 Mitre 10 Heartland Unions)
• Two divisions – Premiership (Graham Mourie Cup) and Championship (Michael Jones Trophy)
• Three match days – Sun 9, Wed 12 and Sat 15 Sept
• 24 matches (8 per day)
• Graham Mourie Cup winners: Auckland (2017), Waikato (2016), Canterbury (2015) and Wellington (2014). 
• Michael Jones Trophy winners: Counties Manukau (2017, 2016, 2015) and Southland (2014).