New Zealand national under-20 rugby union team

Last updated

New Zealand
New Zealand national under-20 rugby union team logo.svg
Union New Zealand Rugby
Nickname(s)Baby Blacks
Coach(es) Jono Gibbes
Top scorer Trent Renata (59)
Most tries Zac Guildford and Tevita Li (8)
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Kit right arm shoulder stripes black shirt alt.png
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Kit shorts white stripes.png
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Team kit
First international
Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand 48–9 Tonga Flag of Tonga.svg
(6 June 2008; Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff)
Largest win
Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand 92–0 Wales Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg
(14 June 2011; Rugby Rovigo Delta, Rovigo)
Largest defeat
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Australia 24–0 New Zealand Flag of New Zealand.svg
(5 May 2019; Bond Sports Park, Gold Coast)
World Cup
Appearances14 (First in 2008)
Best resultChampions (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2015, 2017)

The New Zealand national under-20 rugby union team, nicknamed the Baby Blacks, is the representative rugby union team from New Zealand. It replaced the two former age grade teams, the under-19s and the under-21s. Their first tournament was the 2008 IRB Junior World Championship, which they won after defeating England (38–3) in the final. [1] They have gone on to also win the World Rugby Under 20 Championship in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2015 and 2017. The New Zealand under-20s have been nicknamed the "Baby Blacks" after the youthful All Blacks side which played in 1986.

Contents

Overall

Summary of all matches played by the New Zealand Under-20s as of 19 July 2024

OppositionPlayedWonDrawnLost % Won
Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina 6600100%
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 17130476%
Flag of England.svg  England 650183%
Flag of Fiji.svg  Fiji 7700100%
Flag of France.svg  France 630350%
Flag of Georgia.svg  Georgia 3300100%
IRFU flag.svg  Ireland 980189%
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 2200100%
Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 4400100%
Flag of Samoa.svg  Samoa 5500100%
Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 4400100%
Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 811613%
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 1100100%
Flag of Tonga.svg  Tonga 2200100%
Flag of Uruguay.svg  Uruguay 1100100%
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 1190282%
Total927411780%

World Rugby U20 Championship record

YearRoundPositionPldWDLPFPA
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg 2008 Champions1st550024228
Flag of Japan.svg 2009 Champions1st550021554
Flag of Argentina.svg 2010 Champions1st550026252
Flag of Italy.svg 2011 Champions1st550027451
Flag of South Africa.svg 2012 Runners-up2nd530214849
Flag of France.svg 2013 Semi-finals4th5302159116
Flag of New Zealand.svg 2014 Semi-finals3rd5302196107
Flag of Italy.svg 2015 Champions1st550019163
Flag of England.svg 2016 5th place5th540122386
Flag of Georgia.svg 2017 Champions1st550028292
Flag of France.svg 2018 Semi-finals4th530217384
Flag of Argentina.svg 2019 7th place7th530216196
Flag of South Africa.svg 2023 7th place7th5302188150
Flag of South Africa.svg 2024 Semi-finals3rd5401182152
Total14/146 titles70560142,8961,180

Oceania Rugby U20 Championship record

YearRoundPositionPldWDLPFPA
Flag of Australia (converted).svg 2015 Champions1st330015743
Flag of Australia (converted).svg 2016 Champions1st21015435
Flag of Australia (converted).svg 2017 Champions1st330018632
Flag of Australia (converted).svg 2018 Champions1st330019543
Flag of Australia (converted).svg 2019 Runners-up2nd320114043
Flag of Australia (converted).svg 2022 Champions1st330017526
Total6/65 titles171502907222

U20 Rugby Championship record

YearRoundPositionPldWDLPFPA
Flag of Australia (converted).svg 2024 Champions1st32109258
Total1/11 titles32109258

Players

Recent squads

2024

On 10 April 2024, Head Coach Jono Gibbes announced the squad for the inaugural U20 Rugby Championship in Australia. [2]

PlayerPositionRegion/Province
Vernon Bason Hooker Hurricanes, Manawatu
Manumaua Letiu Hooker Crusaders, Canterbury
A-One Lolofie Hooker Highlanders, Otago
Kurene Luamanuvae Prop Blues, Auckland
Will Martin Prop Chiefs, Waikato
Konradd Newland Prop Hurricanes, Hawke's Bay
Sika Pole Prop Blues, Auckland
Joshua Smith Prop Hurricanes, Hawke's Bay
Tom Allen Lock Hurricanes, Hawke's Bay
Cam Christie Lock Blues, North Harbour
Liam Jack Lock Crusaders, Canterbury
Jeremiah Avei-Collins Flanker Hurricanes, Wellington
Tristyn Cook Flanker Blues, North Harbour
Matt Lowe Flanker Crusaders, Tasman
Andrew Smith Flanker Chiefs, Waikato
Mosese Bason Number 8 Hurricanes, Manawatu
Jonathan Lee Number 8 Crusaders, Canterbury
Malachi Wrampling-Alec Number 8 Chiefs, Waikato
Ben O'Donovan Halfback Crusaders, Canterbury
Dylan Pledger Halfback Highlanders, Otago
Cooper Grant First five-eighth Crusaders, Tasman
Rico Simpson First five-eighth Blues, Auckland
Toby Bell Midfield back Crusaders, Canterbury
Tofuka Paongo Midfield back Hurricanes, Wellington
Xavi Taele Midfield back Blues, Auckland
Giancarlo Tuivailala Midfield back Chiefs, Waikato
Josh Whaanga Midfield back Highlanders, Otago
King Maxwell Wing Blues, Auckland
Stanley Solomon Wing Hurricanes, Wellington
Frank Vaenuku Wing Chiefs, Bay of Plenty
Sam Coles Fullback Hurricanes, Manawatu
Isaac Hutchinson Fullback Crusaders, Canterbury

Non-travelling reserves named were:

  • Logan Wallace (Hurricanes, Manawatū)
  • Nathaniel Pole (Blues, Auckland)
  • Riley Williams (Blues, Auckland)
  • Tai Cribb (Chiefs, Waikato)
  • Tofuka Paongo was initially named as a non-travelling reserve but was subsequently selected to play in the match against Argentina U20. [3]

After winning the inaugural U20 Rugby Championship title, Jono Gibbes named the squad for the 2024 World Rugby U20 Championship on 31 May 2024. [4]

PlayerPositionRegion/Province
Vernon Bason Hooker Hurricanes, Manawatu
Manumaua Letiu Hooker Crusaders, Canterbury
A-One Lolofie Hooker Highlanders, Otago
Kurene Luamanuvae Prop Blues, Auckland
Will Martin Prop Chiefs, Waikato
Sika Pole Prop Blues, Auckland
Senio Sanele Prop Hurricanes, Wellington
Joshua Smith Prop Hurricanes, Hawke's Bay
Logan Wallace Prop Hurricanes, Manawatu
Tom Allen Lock Hurricanes, Hawke's Bay
Cam Christie Lock Blues, North Harbour
Liam Jack Lock Crusaders, Canterbury
Tai Cribb Lock/Flanker Chiefs, Waikato
Jeremiah Avei-Collins Flanker Hurricanes, Wellington
Matt Lowe Flanker Crusaders, Tasman
Andrew Smith Flanker Chiefs, Waikato
Mosese Bason Number 8 Hurricanes, Manawatu
Jonathan Lee Number 8 Crusaders, Canterbury
Malachi Wrampling-Alec Number 8 Chiefs, Waikato
Ben O'Donovan Halfback Crusaders, Canterbury
Dylan Pledger Halfback Highlanders, Otago
Riley Williams Halfback Blues, Auckland
Cooper Grant First five-eighth Crusaders, Tasman
Rico Simpson First five-eighth Blues, Auckland
Xavi Taele Midfield back Blues, Auckland
Giancarlo Tuivailala Midfield back Chiefs, Waikato
King Maxwell Wing Blues, Auckland
Stanley Solomon Wing Hurricanes, Wellington
Frank Vaenuku Wing Chiefs, Bay of Plenty
Xavier Tito-Harris Wing/Fullback Blues, Auckland
Sam Coles Fullback Hurricanes, Manawatu
Isaac Hutchinson Fullback Crusaders, Canterbury

Non-travelling reserves:

  • Nathaniel Pole (Blues, Auckland)
  • Josh Whaanga (Highlanders, Otago)
  • Toby Bell (Crusaders, Canterbury)
  • Tofuka Paongo (Hurricanes, Wellington)
  • Tristyn Cook (Blues, North Harbour)
  • Mosese Bason was initially considered unavailable due to injury and Senio Sanele was named as a non-travelling reserve, but they were subsequently added to the squad as injury replacements for Kurene Luamanuvae and Malachi Wrampling-Alec. [5]

Award winners

The following New Zealand U20s players have been recognised at the World Rugby Awards since 2008: [6]

World Rugby Junior Player of the Year
YearNomineesWinners
2008 Luke Braid Luke Braid
Chris Smith
2009 Aaron Cruden Aaron Cruden
Winston Stanley
2010 Tyler Bleyendaal Julian Savea
Julian Savea
2011 Sam Cane
Luke Whitelock
2013 Ardie Savea
2014 Tevita Li
2015 Akira Ioane
Tevita Li (2)
2016 Shaun Stevenson
2017 Tiaan Falcon
Will Jordan

Coaches

Due to the U20 category only existing since the combining of the U19 and U21 age groups in 2007, the following table only includes coaches appointed since. In the inaugural tournament in 2008, Dave Rennie and Russell Hilton-Jones served as co-coaches in charge of the team. Craig Philpott is the longest serving coach. As of 2024, the current Head Coach is Jono Gibbes.

Updated to: 19 July 2024

CoachTenurePWDLW%
Flag of New Zealand.svg Dave Rennie 20085500100%
Flag of New Zealand.svg Russell Hilton-Jones20085500100%
Flag of New Zealand.svg Dave Rennie 2009–2010101000100%
Flag of New Zealand.svg Mark Anscombe 20115500100%
Flag of New Zealand.svg Rob Penney 2012530260%
Flag of New Zealand.svg Chris Boyd 2013–20141060460%
Flag of New Zealand.svg Scott Robertson 2015–201615140193%
Flag of New Zealand.svg Craig Philpott2017–201924190579%
Flag of New Zealand.svg Tom Donnelly 20223300100%
Flag of Scotland.svg Clark Laidlaw 2023740357%
Flag of New Zealand.svg Jono Gibbes 2024–861181%

See also

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References

  1. Clutton, Graham. "Final: New Zealand 38–3 England". irb.com. Archived from the original on 24 April 2014. Retrieved 22 July 2008.
  2. "Rising stars named in New Zealand Under 20 Rugby Championship squad". allblacks.com. 10 April 2024. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  3. "New Zealand U20 team named to play Argentina". allblacks.com (Press release). 6 May 2024. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
  4. "New Zealand Under 20 squad named for World Rugby U20 Championship". New Zealand Rugby (Press release). 31 May 2024. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
  5. @nzrugbyofficial (16 June 2024). "Mosese Bason and Senio Sanele come into the New Zealand U20 squad for the World Rugby U20 Championship in Cape Town" . Retrieved 30 June 2024 via Instagram.
  6. "Awards Roll of Honour - World Rugby". www.world.rugby. Retrieved 16 March 2024.