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New Zealand hope a domestic Super Rugby-style tournament for the country’s top youth players will pave the way to internationals against Australia and Pacific nations after cross-border competition at junior level was wiped out by COVID-19.
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While professional and test rugby have sputtered back to life after the disruptions of 2020, junior competitions remain effectively shelved, clogging up a key pathway for young talent into senior levels.
The World Rugby Under-20 Championship, scheduled for mid-year in Italy, was cancelled last month for a second successive year due to the pandemic.
With junior rugby to remain a domestic affair for the time being, New Zealand will stage a week-long “Super Rugby Aotearoa Under-20” tournament from April 11.
The under-20 sides will compete for the same five provinces in the professional Aotearoa tournament, along with a sixth ‘New Zealand Barbarians’ team.
Adding novelty, all three of the matchdays in Taupo will be broadcast live by New Zealand’s Sky.
The viewership may be limited to New Zealand’s most devout fans but it will be a vital first step for the country’s top youths to get back into the swing after the whitewash of 2020.
“It’s an interesting group this one, because they didn’t play any rugby last year and so everyone in high performance is dealing with young athletes that have bounced out of a really weird year,” Tabai Matson, head coach of New Zealand’s under-20 programme, told Reuters.
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“There will be pretty much the best kids in the country on show, so it’s exciting and new.
“There may be some rule variations. So it’s also a great opportunity to have a look at a different way of playing.”
BEEFED-UP PROGRAMMES
Much like the All Blacks in test rugby, New Zealand have, until recently, been virtually unbeatable at under-20 level.
The ‘Baby Blacks’ have won six of the 12 World Rugby Under-20 Championships but slumped to seventh in the 2019 edition in Argentina, their worst ever finish.
With the All Blacks dumped from the World Cup semi-finals the same year, some New Zealand pundits linked the disappointment in Japan with the flat-lining performance at under-20 level.
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Matson dismissed the relationship but conceded rivals had beefed up their junior programmes.
“Is the competition getting stronger? Absolutely it is because it’s better prepared than it was five-10 years ago,” said the former Waikato Chiefs assistant coach.
“I think we’re producing a lot of talent. I can’t compare it to other people’s programmes but what I’ve heard is South Africa, for example, get their under-20s together for six months before they go to a tournament.
“That just can’t happen in New Zealand. Our players are committed to their provincial and Super franchises.
“If your desire is to win the (global) tournament every year then you probably have a different programme.
“Our programme is to create adaptable players that can go further in our game and transfer into Super Rugby successfully.”
Like the professional Super Rugby sides in Australia and New Zealand, Matson hopes the New Zealand government will soon approve a travel “bubble” with Australia.
The removal of quarantine requirements in New Zealand for travellers from Australia would pave the way for international under-20 competition to resume between the countries.
Rugby Australia also hope the under-20 Junior Wallabies can take on New Zealand and Pacific nations in an Oceania tournament at some stage this year to drive momentum forward.
“Any time we’ve got a tournament with Pacific Islanders and Australia in it, we’re always happy to smash our brothers across the Tasman and Pacific,” said Matson.
“We want Oceania to be strong because they’re our cousins, brothers and sisters.”
(Reporting by Ian Ransom in Melbourne; Editing Peter Rutherford)
Comments on RugbyPass
Thanks Nick, and on the money. We tend to be apathetic until something REALLY BAD happens, then we aren't! At least this applies to the Reb players and coach, if not the spectators. They seem to be getting very quick ball at times. Have they altered something, or is it just all of the skills coming together at the right time? It seems almost the opposite of the Reds, who started the season with quick ball, but haven't been showing that in the last 3 losing games. Is it attitude (McDermott hasn't looked “right” to me for 3 weeks), or something else?
9 Go to commentsGood summary. As said, Sevu Reece has been electrifying for the Crusaders. Great try and he has been everywhere. Amazing he is now equal with Caleb Ralph , club record of 52 tries for the Crusaders. That record beckons. Good to see Dallas McLeod getting regular starts at last. A big few weeks are ahead.
3 Go to commentsGood article/interview.As was said Christian Lio-Willie was barnstorming when he came on for the Crusaders. What happened at the end, self-explanatory.Captain fantastic Scott Barrett is due back soon as well, once they are back from Aussie. Great to see Ethan Blackadder back last week.
1 Go to commentsYou must have been watching one team, Andrew - and even then you missed the brightest star in the Chiefs pack - Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 2 turnovers, genuine line-out presence and grunt around the field, and the soft hands of a back.
3 Go to commentsHaha what a crock of sh!t these headlines are. Moorby’s best year was that first. Still doesn’t seem to have the same game about him as when he was fresh but has bounced back well this season to be playing consistent tight accurate footy
1 Go to commentsIt’s even dumber than Bernard Foley not kicking the penalty to touch in the Melbourne Bledisloe in 2022.
2 Go to commentsYes, they are traveling well but it’s early days. The Chiefs were in front with 20 to go while they snatched a last minute win v the Reds. Keep calm.
1 Go to commentsThe failure of the Irish system / rugby playing style to produce their own backs has them looking elsewhere for innovation and flair - not that Jordie has much flair. He’s a converted fullback. The Canes have plenty of other younger options.
9 Go to comments1.Watch Wallace Sititi be the wild card AB. A genuine full time no 8 2. Luke J like Sotutu has not delivered. 3. Chiefs have all the right cattle but badly miss the leadership of Webber. LJ is about as unconvincing as Sam Cane when under the pump. They had the winning of that game in the second half then fell apart.
3 Go to commentsYes the Rebels are showing signs of life because they are literally playing for their live -lihoods and thanks to their Australian attack coach. However they are still playing an essentially dull boring south african style for the rest of the time. And Geoff Parling must be the most useless lineout coach ever. Worse than Steve Hansen even. Interestingly we are starting to see more cheap shots and attempts to get away with cheating by Australian players, now they are being influenced by Joe Schmidt. It was exactly the same when Rennie started out as Wallaby coach and thru his tenure. Trying to teach Australians to play like kiwis doesn’t work, as the last 20 years has conclusively demonstrated. Especially when we are not as good at it as kiwis. Which of course is the whole idea …..
9 Go to commentsGreat signing, not sure where he’ll fit in though. As for him ‘playing alongside RG Snyman, that’s highly debatable given the likelyhood that the latter will spend most of the season on sick leave.
9 Go to commentsWowee!
9 Go to commentsEvery team that has played a game in Africa this Champions Cup season is already out of the competition - including the SA teams. Could be a concidence.
30 Go to commentsthat should offer some experiences for Jordie.
9 Go to commentsJust remember: He is not a winger. Took Ian Foster 2 years to figure that out.
9 Go to commentsExcellent article, Nick. We (your RP colleague Brett McKay and my 8/9 Combo cohost), are going to have LSL on our podcast later this month. He has shown consistent excellence as a leader and lock. I’ll chat with you offline about a line of questioning if you have time. H
9 Go to commentsSo no Irish fan or journalist suggested JGP was as good as DuPont. Then even the guy who supposedly did is from Wales and said JGP would be the best around if it was t for DuPont. Right, so what is this story about again
17 Go to commentsGreat news for the URC. Leinster will always attract top talent. Another huge name added to their stable
9 Go to commentsWhen you look at Australian Rugby you can see the talent coming through. There’s young players everywhere. They have the makings of a strong Wallaby team for years to come if they trust their young players. There might be some short term pain but after 30 or 40 caps together a Wallaby group comprised of the current youngsters will really be top class. It seems like the threat of going under has focused the Rebels both on and off the field. They are having a go like a team with nothing to lose and winning back the fans whilst silencing their detractors. Its funny how an existential threat can spur a team on to new highs. Taking rugby back to the communities will help to build support and create a true team for the community and one rooted into it. It may just work and save the Rebels and if they can get the financing then maybe let them have a go at reinvention. I do feel though that Australian Rugby has one too many franchises. If the Rebels die all these solid young players get infused into other franchises who will have more money, depth and resources. It would make the Australian Rugby franchises so much stronger and they may come to achieve parity with the best franchises from NZ. Super Rugby is throwing up some really entertaining games. Not too much good defence but certainly high pace, try scoring magic on display. Melbourne are no exception to this.
9 Go to commentsMost articles (none Irish) said JGP might be second best globally (after Dupont). Anyway, he is playing great. Different player but maybe he is equal to Dupont in how he is reading games now. He is also running a lot of Dupont support lines and scoring a lot of tries. Dupont is best scrum half but JGP in next pack.
17 Go to comments