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
Appearances12 (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 team also competes in the Oceania U20 Championship as of 2015. 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 12 May 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 420250%
Flag of Georgia.svg  Georgia 3300100%
IRFU flag.svg  Ireland 870188%
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 Tonga.svg  Tonga 2200100%
Flag of Uruguay.svg  Uruguay 1100100%
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 1080280%
Total877011680%

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
Total13/136 titles65520132,7141,028

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 a squad was announced for the inaugural U20 Rugby Championship in Australia. [2]

PlayerPositionRegion/Province
A-One LolofieHighlanders, Otago
Andrew SmithFlankerChiefs, Waikato
Ben O’DonovanHalf-backCrusaders, Canterbury
Cameron ChristieLockBlues, North Harbour
Cooper Grant1st Five-eighthCrusaders, Tasman
Dylan PledgerHalf-backHighlanders, Otago
Frank VaenukuWingChiefs, Bay of Plenty
Giancarlo TuivailalaCentreChiefs, Waikato
Isaac HutchinsonFullbackCrusaders, Canterbury
Jeremiah Avei-CollinsHurricanes, Wellington
Jonathan LeeFlankerCrusaders, Canterbury
Josh WhaangaCentreHighlanders, Otago
Joshua SmithPropHurricanes, Hawke’s Bay
King MaxwellWingBlues, Auckland
Konradd NewlandPropHurricanes, Hawke’s Bay
Kurene LuamanuvaeBlues, Auckland
Liam JackLockCrusaders, Canterbury
Malachi Wrampling-AlecNo 8Chiefs, Waikato
Manumaua LetiuCrusaders, Canterbury
Matt LoweFlankerCrusaders, Tasman
Mosese BasonHurricanes, Manawatū
Rico Simpson1st Five-eighthBlues, Auckland
Sam ColesFullbackHurricanes, Manawatū
Sika PoleBlues, Auckland
Stanley SolomonWingHurricanes, Wellington
Toby BellCrusaders, Canterbury
Tofuka Paongo2nd five-eighthHurricanes, Wellington
Tom AllenLockHurricanes, Hawke’s Bay
Tristyn CookBlues, North Harbour
Vernon BasonHookerHurricanes, Manawatū
William MartinPropChiefs, Waikato
Xavi Taele2nd five-eighth/centreBlues, Auckland

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]

2023

On 14 April 2023, a squad was announced for a two-match series against Australia on 29 May and 3 June 2023 in Wellington. [4] From that wider squad, the following group was selected for the 2023 World Rugby U20 Championship: [5]

PlayerPositionProvince
Vernon Bason Hooker Manawatu
Jack Taylor Hooker Southland
Raymond Tuputupu Hooker Manawatu
Ben Ake Prop Auckland
Malakai Hala-Ngatai Prop Manawatu
Siale Lauaki Prop Wellington
Gabe Robinson Prop Waikato
Bradley Crichton Prop Wellington
Tom Allen Lock Hawke's Bay
Tahlor Cahill Lock Canterbury
Hunter Morrison Lock Hawke's Bay
Will Stodart Lock / loose forward Otago
Che Clark Flanker Auckland
Cooper Flanders Flanker Hawke's Bay
Sam Hainsworth-Fa’aofo Flanker Auckland
Peter Lakai Number 8 Wellington
Malachi Wrampling-Alec Flanker / number 8 Waikato
Jordi Viljoen Halfback Manawatu
Riley Williams Halfback Auckland
Noah Hotham (c) Halfback Tasman
Taha Kemara First five-eighth Waikato
Ajay Faleafaga First five-eighth Otago
Xavi Taele Midfield back Auckland
Leo Gordon Midfield back Auckland
Aki Tuivailala Midfield back Waikato
Caleb Tangitau Wing Auckland
Codemeru Vai Wing Bay of Plenty
Macca Springer Wing / fullback Tasman
Isaac Hutchinson Wing / fullback Canterbury
Harry Godfrey First five-eighth / fullback Hawke's Bay

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.

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 2024–321067%

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. April 10, 2024.
  3. "Stuff". www.stuff.co.nz.
  4. "New Zealand Under 20 wider squad announced". allblacks.com (Press release). 14 April 2023. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  5. "New Zealand Under 20 squad named for the World Rugby U20 Championship". allblacks.com (Press release). 6 June 2023. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  6. "Awards Roll of Honour - World Rugby". www.world.rugby. Retrieved 16 March 2024.