Juniors Jet Out to Gold Coast

The New Zealand Junior Squad to take on Australia in two Trans-Tasman tests will fly out of Auckland this afternoon.

The squad, led by World Junior Coaches Joanne Williams and Robbie Wyatt, is heading to the Gold Coast to contest two tests against Australia's premier junior players, and will stay on to compete in the Oceania Junior Championships.

The Trans Tasman Junior Test Series is being revived after last being held in 2006.  The format has changed slightly since it was last played; with two males and two females in each age group from under 13 to under 19 playing off.  A third under 19 boy or girl will be added to the series in alternate years to help prepare for the World Junior Championships.  This provides top junior players with opportunities to represent New Zealand from a younger age, helping to prepare them for the challenges of representing New Zealand at a World Junior Championships, and/or a professional playing career.

The team representing New Zealand is:

Under 13: Kaitlyn Watts, Anika Jackson, Glenn Templeton, Kobe Fleming
Under 15: Rhiarne Taiapa, Nadia Hubbard, Corbin Faint, Matthew Lucente
Under 17: Parearau Kutia, Camden Te Kani-McQueen, Max Trimble, Luke Jones
Under 19: Abbie Palmer, Jacinta Matson, World Junior Boys Squad (Sion Wiggin, Jordan LeComte, Scott Galloway, Luke Cooper, Chapman Kutia, Josh Oakley, Joseph Lyons).

A further contingent of Kiwis is heading over to play in the Oceania Junior Championships which start on Saturday.