Region Oceania Captain Ata Hingano | Governing body NZRL | |
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Haka standoff junior kiwis v junior kangaroos
The Junior Kiwis side represents New Zealand in the sport of rugby league. They are commonly known as the Junior Kiwis, after the native bird of that name. Since 2010, they are an under-20s side, with players selected from the NRL and Holden Cup. They are administered by the New Zealand Rugby League.
Contents
- Haka standoff junior kiwis v junior kangaroos
- History
- 1st Test
- 2nd Test
- 2011 match
- 2012 match
- 2015 match
- 2016 match
- Captains
- Coaches
- References
History
Prior to 2010, the Junior Kiwis consisted of the best New Zealand players aged 18 years or younger and would represent the country against the likes of the Australian Schoolboys, the New South Wales Under 18 side and the England Under 18 side, sometimes as curtain raisers to the senior Kiwi games. Players such as Adam Blair, Thomas Leuluai, Issac Luke, Simon Mannering, Jerome Ropati, Manu Vatuvei and Sonny Bill Williams represented the Junior Kiwis early in their careers and went on to play at the senior level for New Zealand.
In 2010, with the advent of the National Youth Competition, the Junior Kiwis was switched to an under 20s team and played in a two Test series against the Junior Kangaroos. Since 2011, the Junior Kiwis have faced the Junior Kangaroos at the end of each season in a one off Test match, usually as a curtain raiser to a senior level Australia-New Zealand Test match.
1st Test
Played as a curtain raiser to the New Zealand-England Four Nations match.
Teams
JUNIOR KIWIS: 1. Glen Fisiiahi 2. Bill Tupou 3. Siuatonga Likiliki 4. Dean Whare 5. Drury Low 6. Carlos Tuimavave 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Lama Tasi 9. Matt McIlwrick 10. Martin Taupau (c) 11. Jason Taumalolo 12. Mark Ioane 13. Sebastine Ikahihifo 14. Sam Mataora 15. Nafe Seluini 16. Sam Lousi 17. Isaac Maliota. Coach: David Kidwell.
JUNIOR KANGAROOS: 1. Dane Gagai 2. Michael Oldfield 3. Justin O'Neill 4. Ben Jones (c) 5. Josh Mansour 6. Corey Norman 7. Sam Williams 8. James Cunningham 9. Cameron King 10. Evrett Vaurasi 11. Mark Nicholls 12. Josh Jackson 13. Gerard Beale 14. Matthew Wright 15. Tariq Sims 16. Mark Appleton 17. Kyle O'Donnell. Coach: David Hamilton.
2nd Test
Played as a curtain raiser to the New Zealand-Papua New Guinea Four Nations match.
Teams
JUNIOR KIWIS: 1. Glen Fisiiahi 2. Bill Tupou 3. Siuatonga Likiliki 4. Drury Low 5. Kane Morgan 6. Carlos Tuimavave 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Mark Ioane 9. Matt McIlwrick 10. Martin Taupau (c) 11. Sam Mataora 12. Lama Tasi 13. Sebastine Ikahihifo 14. Nafe Seluini 15. Sam Lousi 16. Isaac Maliota 17. Pakisonasi Afu . Coach: David Kidwell.
JUNIOR KANGAROOS: 1. Dane Gagai 2. Michael Oldfield 3. Justin O'Neill 4. Ben Jones (c) 5. Nathan Massey 6. Corey Norman 7. Sam Williams 8. James Cunningham 9. Cameron King 10. Tariq Sims 11. Mark Nicholls 12. Josh Jackson 13. Gerard Beale 14. Dominic Walsh 15. Mark Appleton 16. Matthew Wright 17. Kyle O'Donnell. Coach: David Hamilton.
2011 match
Played as a curtain raiser to the Australia-New Zealand pre-Four Nations tournament match. Both coaches agreed to allow an 18th man be used during the match.
2012 match
Played as a curtain raiser to the Australia-New Zealand end of year Test match.
2015 match
Played as a curtain raiser to the Papua New Guinea-Fiji Melanesian Cup match and the Samoa-Tonga Polynesian Cup match.
2016 match
Played as a curtain raiser to the Papua New Guinea-Fiji Melanesian Cup match and the Samoa-Tonga Polynesian Cup match.