Olex Academy Players named in New Zealand under 20 squad
29 Apr 2011
April 28, 2011 - The New Zealand Under 20 Squad for the June Junior World Championship in Italy has been named.
Three Taranaki players feature in the 26 man squad, they are; Heiden Bedwell-Curtis, Beauden Barrett and Waisake Naholo.
Heiden Bedwell-Curtis, Beauden Barrett and Waisake Naholo are all members of the Olex Cables Taranaki Academy. All three began with the Olex Academy in 2008/2009 and have been to two national sevens tournaments. They were all members of the Olex Taranaki Sevens team who won the final of the Hyperion Gold Coast International Sevens Competition on the Gold Coast in November last year.
TRFU Rugby Development Manager Michael Collins believes the Olex Academy has been beneficial to the development of all three players. Collins asserted their inclusion in the NZ Under 20 Squad is testament to the work they have put in at club and Academy level.
"Beauden, Heiden and Waisakes inclusion in the NZ Under 20 Squad is great reward for three players who have demonstrated excellent work ethic. They are all very talented players and it is fantastic to see their skill and hard work acknowledged at a national level. Congratulations to Beuden, Heiden and Waisake. I am sure it will be the start of long and successful careers for the three of them." Collins said.
New Zealand has won the last three IRB Junior World Championships in Wales, Japan and Argentina respectively.
The squad will remain in camp at the Sport and Rugby Institute in Palmerston North until Sunday 1 May and will re-assemble at the Millennium Institute in North Harbour from 31 May - 4 June.
(Article courtesy of Nikita Hall TRFU Marketing and PR Executive)
Media Release - Three Taranaki Players in 2011 NZ Under 20 Squad
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