Rugby: Northland twin threat to tackle U20 event

Josh Goodhue.

Kawakawa twins Jack and Josh Goodhue will earn a few more stamps on their passports next month.

After good performances at the Oceania Rugby Junior Championship in Australia last week, the Northland brothers have been named in the New Zealand side to head to Italy for the World Rugby U20 Championship.

On winning all of their matches at the Oceania Rugby Junior Championship, New Zealand head coach Scott Robertson and assistant coaches Leon MacDonald and Tana Umaga confirmed their final selections for the squad.

Robertson said the Oceania tournament had been the perfect preparation for the world championship.

"We really got to test our combinations and to put the boys under some pressure in both the tournament environment, with short turn-arounds between games, and the competition for positions," Robertson said.

"We're excited to finally settle on our squad, which we believe has the ability to perform at this tournament.

"We've think we've got the balance right between experience and talent to give us the best opportunity to do well.

The squad includes eight players from last year, which brings invaluable tournament experience to the 2015 campaign.

A total of 10 players in the squad have had ITM Cup or Investec Super Rugby experience.

The world championship starts on June 2.