The New Zealand Under-19 team have gathered in Auckland for the IRB’s Under-19 World Championship in Belfast, starting on 4 April.
They are, of course, serious contenders for the title.
On Monday 26 March they will play a warm-up match against a Blues Under-21 side and then leave two days later for Belfast.
Three of the team were at last year’s championship in Dubai – Ben Afeaki, Chris Smith and Trent Renata.
Of the team 14 were in the 2006 New Zealand Schools team – Luke Braid, Ryan Crotty, Israel Dagg, Ash Dixon, Zachary Guildford, John Hardie, Daniel Kirkpatrick, Quentin MacDonald, Nasi Manu,Wayne Ngaluafe, Peter Saili, Winston Stanley, Samuel Whitelock and Jackson Willison.
Luke Braid is the younger brother of Blues loose forward Daniel Braid, and son of former All Black Gary Braid. Samuel Whitelock is the younger brother of George Whitelock, who captained New Zealand Under 19 in 2005. Winston Stanley is the nephew of former All Black Joe Stanley. Israel Dagg played for Hawke’s Bay in the Air New Zealand Cup in 2006.
New Zealand Under-19 squad: Ben Afeaki (North Harbour), Rodney Ah You (Canterbury), Nicholas Barrett (Southland), Luke Braid (Bay of Plenty), Matthew Cameron (Waikato), Thomas Crowley (Taranaki), Ryan Crotty (Canterbury), Israel Dagg (Hawke’s Bay), Ash Dixon (Canterbury), Paea Fa’anunu (Auckland), Robert Fruean (Wellington), Zachary Guildford (Hawke’s Bay), John Hardie (Southland), Daniel Kirkpatrick (Wellington), Quentin MacDonald (Tasman), Nasi Manu (Canterbury), Sean Maitland (Canterbury), Wayne Ngaluafe (Auckland), Kade Poki (Tasman), Trent Renata (Waikato), Peter Saili (Auckland), Winston Stanley (Auckland), Chris Smith (North Harbour), Josh Townsend (Otago), Samuel Whitelock (Manawatu) and Jackson Willison (Waikato)
