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New Zealand Hawks U16’s named for 2010 Oceania Cup

  • Monday, December 06 2010 @ 04:51 pm ACDT
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Oceania

The NZ Hawks youth team has been named and will play against up to 7 countries from the Pacific region including an indigenous team from Australia, The Flying Boomerangs. The Kiwis will be looking to improve after last year's very raw squad finished 3rd, behind Nauru and surprise winners Tonga. Competition will be tough with the 2009 tournament favourite, Papua New Guinea, keen to play well after ultimately being unable to attend last time.

Once again talent scouts from the AFL clubs will be in attendance in search of potential International Scholarships from the participants aged between 14 to 17.

The Hawks have included several players from the inaugural cup held last December in Fiji, with Captain Sami Tuitopou, Cori Ieli, Rhys Panui-Leth, Shem Tatupu, Brody Cleave, Luke Campbell, Ben Fisher, Vandyn Hartman, Brandon Sucu and Trent Croad Scholarship winner Kurt Heatherley all returning. Each team is allowed to contain up to 6 players turning 17 and a minimum of 6 players turning 15 must also be included.

The Hawks team has just three players who cannot compete yet again in the 2011 Youth Oceania Cup. The team will be coached by NZ Hawks Senior Captain Andrew Crighton with former Rugby League International and Warriors representative, Tony Tatupu, his Assistant. The team this year is brimming with talent. A recent training session was held in conjunction with the Senior New Zealand Hawks and this year’s team looks a step up on last year’s inaugural side.

This year's team:- Kurt Heatherley (Waikato), Rhys Panui-Leth, Shem Tatupu, Benjamin Fisher, Samiuela Tuitupou, Charlton Brown, Brody Cleave, Brandon Sucu, Kayne Middleton, Denzel Panapa, Aisake Tuitupou, Kalavi Naniseni, Kardia Siaka, Mitch Ryan, Jayden White, Cori Ieli, Vandyn Hartman (Auckland), Ash Wear, Alexander Chapman, Chris McNoe (Otago), Pakaitore Turia, Luke Campbell (Wellington), Alex Frew, Kyle Smith (Canterbury), Dayne Emms (Bay of Plenty)

Given the number of returning players with another year under their belts with leadership provided by last year’s captain Sam Tuitupou and inaugural Trent Croad Scholarship holder Kurt Heatherley the Kiwis would have to fancy their chances.

See here for team details.