Tasman XV to play NZ U20 in Blenheim

Marlborough fans will get a chance to see some of the country’s leading under-20 rugby players in action next weekend.

A match between the New Zealand Under-20 team and a Tasman High Performance XV is scheduled for Lansdowne Park on Sunday, July 11, with a 2.30pm kick-off.

Two Tasman players, flanker Anton Segner and prop Luca Inch, are members of the NZ Under-20 squad which contains five players who who featured in Super Rugby Aotearoa - Chay Fihaki (Crusaders), Gideon Wrampling (Chiefs), Josh Lord (Chiefs), Ruben Love (Hurricanes and Soane Vikena (Blues).

Last Wednesday, the U20s had their opening match of 2021 in Palmerston North. They took on a Wellington XV and came away with a 40-0 victory, outscoring Wellington six tries to nil.

The Tasman HP team, who play Cook Islands at Trafalgar Park on Wednesday, have named a powerful squad for the NZ under-20 encounter.

The Tasman squad: Kershawl Sykes-Martin, Atu Moli, Antonio Shalfoon, Taya Brown, Viliami Na’apa, Monu Moli, Chris Halaufia, Leopino Maupese, Max Hicks, Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta, Taina Fox-Matamua, Matt Graham-Williams, Sam Matenga, Louie Chapman, Willie Havili, Timoci Tavatavanawai, Tim O’Malley, Rahari Witehira, Taine Robinson, Levi Aumua, Mitch Barry, Michael Stringer, Jayden  Woolley, Macca Springer.

In other representative rugby news, the Tasman under-19 wider training group has been named and includes seven Marlborough-based players. They are: Tristian Taylor, Andre Hebberd, Viliami Napa'a, Sky Boskett Barnes, Tino Vakaloa, Ollie Lawson and Setaleki Baker.