Canterbury U19 side announced for 2023 campaign
Many of the exciting next generation of Canterbury Rugby will get their opportunity to pull on the red & black for the first time, with the Canterbury U19 squad announced for 2023.
The squad also features a number of returning players too, with Canterbury U19 Player of the Year for 2022 Johnny Lee and New Zealand U20 representative Isaac Hutchinson amongst them.
The group features names that have lit up both the Miles Toyota Championship and the club competitions in the last few years, with former 1st XV captains, Ben O’Donovan (St Bede’s), Jack Coulthard (St Thomas) and Lee (Christ’s College) all featuring.
Also in the group is Hornby forward Richie Tupuailei (St Thomas), who was the joint top try scorer in the Luisetti Seeds Combined Country Division 1 competition playing in the front row and at loose forward.
The squad contains Premier finals experience too, with Hutchinson, Cam Rawlings and Riley Brewis featuring in Sunday’s Bascik Transport Metro Premier Final.
Canterbury NPC Head Coach Marty Bourke is excited to see the next group of Canterbury players getting their chance to pull on the famed jersey, talking to the pathway that U19’s begins that has seen players move through the ranks of NPC, Super Rugby and to international honours too.
“The U19’s programme is an excellent chance for these young players to get their first taste of provincial rugby.” said Bourke.
“We’ve seen in recent years how the U19’s programme has kickstarted young careers, with the likes of Fletcher Newell and Tamaiti Williams, two of our most recent All Blacks, playing in the U19’s side in 2019, so we look forward to watching this group follow in their footsteps.”
The Canterbury U19’s begin their campaign this Saturday against Ellesmere, as they build towards the U19 South Island tournament in early September.
Canterbury U19 Squad for 2023:
Props:
Harry Boyle - Lincoln University
Riley Brewis - HSOB
Gus Brown - University
Josh Dunlea - Lincoln University
Zac Parkin - Lincoln University
Hookers:
Darcy Keenan - Lincoln University
Cam Allison - Lincoln University
Hendrix Taylor - University
Locks:
Liam Jack - Lincoln University
Jayden Sa - Shirley
Andre Sula - University
Loose Forwards:
Wiremu Bartlett - Lincoln University
Jack Coulthard - University
George Gunn - Lincoln University
Johnny Lee - Lincoln University
Harry Nossiter - Lincoln University
Richie Tupuailei - Hornby
Inside Backs:
Ollie Burra - University
Eddie Chaytor - Lincoln University
Tyler Edwards - Linwood
Ben O'Donovan - Lincoln University
Callum Summerfield - Lincoln University
Luca Tracey - Sumner
Midfield:
Toby Bell - University
Elliot Prendergast - Belfast
Kurtis Macdonald - Sydenham
Tevita Faitotonu - University
Kaea Luke - Sydenham
Outside Backs:
Maka Fainga'anuku - Sydenham
Isaac Hutchinson - Marist Albion
Cam Rawlings - Marist Albion
Tom Ruwhiu - Lincoln University
Team Management:
Head Coach - Daniel O'Brien - University
Set Piece Coach - Simon Gunn - St Bede's
Defence Coach - Ben Rhodes - Sydenham
Manager - Ian MacGillvray
Strength and Conditioning Coach - Jarrad Choat
Phsyio - Bede Christey
Analyst - Mitchell Logan