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'Mixed views': New Zealand age grade rugby gets shake up with new team

34 days ago

New Zealand reacts during the match between Australia U18s and New Zealand Schools at FMG Stadium Waikato on October 06, 2024 in Hamilton, New Zealand. (Photo by Fiona Goodall/Getty Images for Rugby Australia)

New Zealand Rugby (NZR) has announced the introduction of a New Zealand U18 team to the men’s national high performance pathway programme.

The team will be selected for the first time in 2025 and will play two away fixtures against Australia U18 in September-October.

NZR General Manager Professional Rugby & Performance Chris Lendrum said:

“The introduction of the New Zealand U18 team provides an exciting opportunity to include a greater number of young players in our national pathways programme and exposure to international matches.

“We know from our registration data that nearly 30 percent of U18 eligible players were playing at clubs in 2024 and we want to include those players in what we believe is a crucial step in our pathways programme.”

The New Zealand U18 team will be announced following a high-performance camp and a series of matches from September 16 to 21, featuring the New Zealand Secondary Schools (NSSS), New Zealand U18 M?ori and New Zealand Barbarians U18 teams, with a fourth team to be confirmed.

“The New Zealand Secondary Schools team and Barbarians have long been an integral and special part of the rugby pathway and ecosystem, and the U18 M?ori programme has been a major success since its introduction in 2016,” Lendrum said.

NZR High Performance Manager Matt Sexton said school staff would play a key role in the New Zealand U18 team’s management and coaching groups.

“It’s vital we maintain the lens of providing pastoral care to our young players, most of whom will still be at school. We believe teachers and school staff are best placed to provide that support in the team environment alongside NZR high performance staff,” Sexton said.

The introduction of the New Zealand U18 team comes after a consultation process that began in 2023 and has included feedback from the New Zealand Secondary Schools Rugby Union (NZSSRU), NZSS management, Provincial Unions and Super Rugby clubs.

“We spoke to a large number of people involved in age-grade rugby and while there were some mixed views, we firmly believe a New Zealand U18 team will deliver the best outcome from the greatest number of players,” Sexton said.

Garry Chronican, Chairman of the New Zealand Schools’ Rugby Union said:

“NZ Schools’ Rugby Union remain committed to the annual selection of a NZ Schools Rugby team and appreciate NZ Rugby’s support in continuing to share this commitment.”

NZSSRU were “very happy” with the high-performance camp and a series of matches scheduled for 2025 including the NZSS, U18 Barbarians and M?ori U18 Ng? Whatukura.

“We understand the desire by NZ Rugby to provide a pathway for all under 18 players, including those who have recently left school, and that this is the norm in our competitor countries, including Australia. We also understand that it is a rare occurrence in 2025 that the New Zealand and Australian school holidays align the schedule around the New Zealand Under 18s versus Australia U18s fixtures.

“We remain committed to working alongside NZ Rugby to plan the New Zealand Schools programme in future and look forward to providing similar opportunities for girls.”

-Press Release/NZR

Comments

2 Comments

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JW 34 days ago

Sorry I’m too pathetic to read this properly (more than skim), weve had a U18 team for ages right, is this just saying the U18 team is swapping places in relevance/pecking order with Schools? U18 will have the best U18 talent, including younger school boys, when previously it was simply a team for those 30% of ‘club’ players?

Have to say I’m a fan of promoting club participation over school at that age bracket.

SC 34 days ago

Next step is for each of the Super Rugby teams to have a U18 team and hold a competition during the summer break when school is closed.

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No wonder NZ is sweating on their 10’s, they keep dicking them about between one position and another. Jack of all trades, master of none.

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Chiefs Mana 1 hour ago

Waratahs vs Chiefs: McKenzie needs to be No.10, James O’Connor is right

Hmm i’ve watched the Chiefs closely for a long time; against the Reds and then the Tahs, we completely went into our shells and basically played 10 man rugby, I assumed it was due to the rain vs Reds but we saw it again against Waratahs. It is actually very different to what we’ve seen from McMillans sides for years, in my recollection. My glass half-full, one-eyed Chiefs nature would like to think it’s in preparation for arm wrestles as the nights get colder and wetter in the pointy end of the season but it’s concerning as was very easy to defend for both those Aussie teams.

Assuming Dmac takes sabbatical next year, Jacomb will be our 10 and with some level of Waikato/Chiefs continuity in the coaches expected (Gibbes or Filipo as head coach), David Hill will continue to be in charge of the backs.

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Cantab 1 hour ago

Waratahs vs Chiefs: McKenzie needs to be No.10, James O’Connor is right

It seems to me that opposition teams have him worked out and know how to isolate and negate his style of play. He appears a little one dimensional and forgets the other players in his team

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Showboating one thing, niggly s hit in the ruck like untying players laces….nah thats making yourself a target. Leinster wont fall for that nonsense

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He is good . Let him be .He may yet get a couple of corners knocked off him , but then again maybe not .It’s fun watching !

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JW 2 hours ago

Waratahs vs Chiefs: McKenzie needs to be No.10, James O’Connor is right

It’s not resorted man, this is the same level of performance weve seen from McMillans sides for years. They’re a hard team that relies on some Dmac or Scooter creativity to long dangerous, not patterns.

I think Jacomb can be a very good 10 for the Chiefs but they are going to need to change the plan completely to suit him. What works well with Dmac is not going to work well for Jacomb, perhaps the exact opposite of Dmac as his strength is being strong with the ball flat at the line while making decisions.

Would hope for a really smart coach in the Lancaster mould to take over the chiefs, or a young guy like O’Gara was coming in as attack coach, and build on the good foundation McMillan’s built. Actually Joe Schmidt might be just the guy!

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JW 2 hours ago

Waratahs vs Chiefs: McKenzie needs to be No.10, James O’Connor is right

Could have just been bad luck of course but I wonder if it’s really got something to do with falling out of mojo with a role you’ve not had for a while.

But in regards to the common facets weve seen many times before already, he tried running and showing some threat on the counter (which we haven’t seen for a long time, since he used to top charts as a through and through fullback) and put himself under pressure numerous times because he just can’t handle contact in todays level of rugby. I actually thought he was bloody luck on a few occasions to get out of jail with possession of the ball still.

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JW 2 hours ago

Waratahs vs Chiefs: McKenzie needs to be No.10, James O’Connor is right

That might be for his extension period? He was already signed for next year of course. It may not have been a sabbatical discussion however, he could have just been a player like JB who they were looking for places (La Rochelle in this case) where they have people/coaches in place who they trust and think can develop their players further.

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TD 2 hours ago

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And with all that said, I also agree, the turn out is sad. But there is a mismatch between how much the media thinks this country is rugby mad and the actual reality of rugby fandom in this country. Maybe the powers that be should target families and students with cheaper prices.

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suluzusu 3 hours ago

Rugby fans level same reproach at Henry Pollock following Castres game

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suluzusu 3 hours ago

Rugby fans level same reproach at Henry Pollock following Castres game

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TO 3 hours ago

Rugby fans level same reproach at Henry Pollock following Castres game

Spot on mate. We’ll see how smart he is in Dublin

11 Go to comments