Veteran coach Neil Barnes to guide one of three trial teams.
One of New Zealand’s most experienced provincial coaches and two former test players will oversee the Chiefs Under 20s trial in Hamilton on Saturday.
Veteran Taranaki coach Neil Barnes, who has also been an assistant coach at the Gallagher Chiefs, Canada and Fiji, will be joined by Taranaki’s Tei Walden and Thames Valley’s David Harrison as coaches of one of the three trial teams.
Former All Blacks hooker Hika Elliot, who played 115 games for the Gallagher Chiefs, has Bay of Plenty’s Luther Hirini and Counties Manukau’s Mark Selwyn as his assistants. And former Ireland test prop Nathan White, who played 41 games for the Gallagher Chiefs, has two former Gallagher Chiefs with him in Hamilton Burr and Jackson Willison.
Chiefs Pathways and International Academy manager said it was superb coaches from around the Chiefs region were involved in the Under 20s programme which includes 75 players.
“It shows the strength of the Chiefs, that we have this sort of provincial buy-in.”
The teams will contest three 45 minutes periods at Hamilton Marist from 12pm.
Team Blue
- Ra Palmer
- Bronson van der Heyden
- Cody Renata
- Brad Meek
- Maika Alofi
- Hunter Weaver
- Aidan Spratley
- Micah Fale
- Charlie Sinton
- Calum McCabe
- Conrad Jackson
- Haki Wiseman (c)
- David Lewai
- Ollie Guerin
- Noah Rogers
- Sione Latu
- Jackson Edwards
- Hauraki Hira
- Malcolm Faavela
- Harry Fevre
- Jamie Viljoen
- Jackson McMullen
Coaches
Nathan White (Waikato)
Hamilton Burr (Waikato)
Jackson Willison (Waikato)
S&C Coach – Matt Walker (Counties Manukau)
Team white
- Tawhiao Te Kotua
- Zayden Bradley
- Christiaan Botha
- Jesse West
- Simi Auimatagi
- Ben Ofa
- Suli Pahulu
- Longani Fakateli
- Mitch Swann (c)
- Alapati Tusa-Soagia
- Ryan Young
- Nehemiah Su’a
- Devontae Pasi
- Isi Tuutafaiva
- Dallas Rata-Makene (vc)
- Rory Blyth
- Luke Hills
- Sean Burgess
- Coen Oliver
- Tyde Roderick
- Rhydian Spice
- Levi Muagututia-Saipele
- Darz Dais
- Mika Vueti
Coaches
Nathan White (Waikato)
Hamilton Burr (Waikato)
Jackson Willison (Waikato)
S&C Coach – Matt Walker (Counties Manukau)
Team white
- Ravai Faktaufon
- Ben Parnwell
- Ilam Lefale
- Christian Collins
- Harper Mills
- Solomone Mailulu
- Riley Mitchell
- Hakatoa Tupou
- Halen King (c)
- Rios Tasmania (vc)
- Aidan Roy
- Leighton Jones
- Malachi Emmett
- Zebby Uini-Faiva
- Aaron Riley
- Dalys Esera
- Ropati Setefano
- Liam van der Heyden
- Khan Stevenson
- Monty Parkinson
- Jamie White
Coaches
Nathan White (Waikato)
Hamilton Burr (Waikato)
Jackson Willison (Waikato)
S&C Coach – Matt Walker (Counties Manukau)
Additional Support
Managers – Ryan Gulbransen (Waikato), Keith Middlemiss (King Country)
Physio – Josh Fergusson (Waikato)
Analyst – Tandi Keet (Chiefs)
Campaign Managers – Mike Rogers (Chiefs), Liam Messam (Chiefs)
