Under 19 talent set to grow at New Zealand Rugby development camp

Fifty players have been identified and selected to take part in a week-long Under 19 development camp at NZCIS in Wellington.

The players were selected following New Zealand Schools, New Zealand Barbarians and New Zealand Māori Under 18 campaigns, as well as Provincial Union Under 19 representative matches.

New Zealand Rugby (NZR) High Performance Player Development Manager Matt Sexton said the focus of the camp would be on personal skill development, with the opportunity to provide a benchmark for players seeking to achieve at the next level.

“The camp will provide players with the appropriate tools in their professional rugby development. It is another important step in building our player pathway and establishing a strong foundation of aspiring players who are setting their sights on the New Zealand Under 20s, Super Rugby Under 20s and future professional contracts.

“Once again, we have worked closely with our talent identification network to select available athletes to attend. Those selected will be supported by a leading group of coaches from throughout the country to assist with their skill development across the week and ensure at the conclusion of the camp they are aware of the next steps to lead to future success.”

The camp, which starts on 13 November, will place an emphasis on development and preparation for the athletes as they look ahead to the Super Rugby Under 20 competition, from which the New Zealand Under 20s squad will be selected.

Selected players for the Under 19 development camp are;

Note: A number of players were unavailable for selection due to school exams and All Blacks Sevens commitments. No team will be selected at the conclusion of the camp.