The Blues have named a 54-strong Under 18 Development Squad to attend a training camp in July.

The camp will be held in Auckland at Mount Albert Grammar School from Sunday July 14 to Thursday July 18 and provide an opportunity to expose the next generation to the Blues environment.

The idea behind the camp is to replicate a High Performance week in rugby with the squad training and building towards an internal game on Wednesday before a reviewing the game on the final day of camp.  

Blues Talent ID and Development Manager Shane King said the U18 squad includes players from right across the Blues region –  from Northland’s Kaitaia RFC to Botany College in Auckland.

“It’s great to see the whole region represented in this talented Under 18 squad,” said King. 

“These squads are always incredibly hard to select, we’re lucky to have so much young talent in the Blues catchment and we’re excited to bring this group together to see where they’re at but also where they can measure themselves against their peers.”

Members of the Blues coaching staff including Paul Tito, Jason O’Halloran and Dan Halangahu will be on hand to present to the squad and take training sessions, something King said provides a real boost for the players.

“When these young men see and hear from the Blues Assistant Coaches it certainly makes them sit up and take notice. This is a great learning opportunity for the players and equally a chance to impress those coaches from the top team,” said King.

 

BLUES U18 SQUAD 2024

 

FORWARDS

Charlie Wallis - Auckland Grammar

Alex Va'aia - Westlake Boys

Solo Balenaikasakasa - Kelston Boys’

Riley Grant-Faiva - Saint Kentigern College

Sione Manuopangai - King’s College

Bradley Knight - Kaitaia RFC

Brodie Savage – Rosmini College

Tamiano Ahloo - College Rifles RFC

Xavier Leota - Kelston Boys’

Iggy Iversen - East Coast Bays RFC

Jayden Clarke - Rosmini College

Flynn Hamilton-Muller - King’s College

Junior Aukuso-Slade - Saint Kentigern College

Tevita Tatafu - St Peter’s College

Jacob Carter - King’s College

Zac Taulapapa - Mount Albert Grammar

Frazer Brown - Ponsonby RFC

Fin Mather - Auckland Grammar

Tai Clyde - Whangarei Boys’

Anton Seuseu - Rosmini College

Aio Keith - Kelston Boys’

Jay Dunne - East Coast Bays RFC

Zeph Lewis - Dilworth

Daniel Lawrence - Liston College

Noah Gregory - Mount Albert Grammar

Izaiah Dunmore - Kaitaia RFC

Reef Sofala - Whangarei Boys’

Caleb Woodley - Grammar TEC

 

BACKS

Matt Harris - St Peter’s College

Jack Saunders - Whangarei Boys’

Louie Kishimoto - St Peter’s College

Boston Krone - Auckland Grammar

Ben Love - Whangarei Boys’

Blake Lidgard - Westlake Boys

Rios Tasmania - Auckland Grammar

Angus Revell - Saint Kentigern College

Kai Aihara - Kerikeri High School

Jarrel Tuaimalo-Vaega - Kelston Boys’

Te Aowera Para - Wellington College

Nico Stanley - Auckland Grammar

Garoux (Gary) Basson - Botany College

Siale Pahulu - Saint Kentigern College

Paula Lu'au - Kelston Boys’

Reimana Saunderson - Rurawhe - Northcote RFC

Sosaia Manu - King’s College

Max Morgan - Sacred Heart College

JD van der Westhuizen - Westlake Boys

Siaosi Kava - Tamaki College

Connor Bowden - Botany College

Inoke Vaingalo - Rosmini College

Jacob Paea - St Peter’s College

Cohen Norrie - Sacred Heart College

Callum Jones - Kaitaia RFC

Malakai Hafoka - St Peter’s College

Ryder Heath - Rosmini College

Tyson Parsons - Kelston Boys

 

Players unavailable due to injury: Luka Patumaka Makata (Saint Kentigern College), Sam Jancys (Saint Kentigern College), Jarlon Lesatele (Westlake Boys), Cruiz Simpson (Sacred Heart College), Josh Leo (Liston College), Logan Platt (Auckland Grammar), JP Schmidt (De La Salle College)