Manawatu's James Oliver will captain the New Zealand Universities side to tour Japan. Photo / Getty Images
A very strong looking New Zealand Universities squad will tour Japan in a few weeks, continuing to foster a close commercial and rugby relationship between NZU and the nation that will host the Rugby World Cup in four years.
Many of the 25-man squad have played ITM Cup, New Zealand Under 20s or, recently, NZ Schools.
New coach Brendon Timmins knows all about the NZU ethos and history, having played for the national student side in the early 1990s, captaining them in 1994 to a win over Fiji in a side that included three present or future All Blacks in Marc Ellis, Mark Robinson and Chresten Davis. The former Otago and Highlanders lock was keen to continue the solid work of previous coaches Steve Surridge and Mark Ranby, who guided the 2014 NZU to a 2-0 internal tour record.
"One of the things they passed on was making this a team of value. I hold a lot of pride in the jersey. We didn't want guys to just keep the jersey warm, we wanted them to enhance the jersey. It's a very strong team and if most players are not holding at least an ITM Cup contract now, they should by the end of the year," said Timmins.
Captain will be Manawatu Turbo and Massey University student James Oliver, younger brother of Anton and son of the late Frank. He will be one of several senior NZU reps who can guide the younger ones.
In the pack, watch for three Auckland players - front-rower Marcel Renata, who played strongly in the dying throes of the 2014 Gallaher Shield final for University, flame-haired lock Tom Robinson, son of 1983 All Black Alistair Robinson, and 2012 NZ Schools loose forward, the abrasive Sinclair Dominikovich-Murray.
Tom Sanders, last year's NZ Under 20s opensider, is being released by the Crusaders, where he is a member of the wider training group. Whetu Douglas, who performed well for Waikato in the 2014 ITM Cup, will likely suit up at blindside.
Fellow Mooloo front-rower Hame Tamahere turned down a chance to tour with the Chiefs Development XV to travel with NZU, as did prop Tau Koloamatangi, though he was subsequently called up for the New Zealand Under 20s, whom he represented at the 2014 Junior World Championship. Lock Jacob Skeen, an original selection, will stay with the Chiefs Development programme.
In the backline, which will be guided by former Canterbury fullback Simon Forrest, watch out for first five Ere Enari, last season's NZ Schools pivot out of the St Kentigern First XV, now studying at Lincoln.
"He's very promising and has really caught the eye of both the Crusaders and Canterbury environments. He's probably jumped a few of the boys in there. He's exciting and we want to express ourselves. The NZU attack zone is 100m deep and that's our attitude. That's why he's in there," said Timmins.
Wing Gavin Stark of Otago is a big strapping lad who was the sole South Islander in the 2013 Schools. He was considered unlucky to miss the cut for the NZ Under 20s. Outside backs Matt Faddes and Luke Devcich have both shown their qualities at provincial levels, as has Faasiu Fuatai, who was released from Gordon Tietjens' national sevens squad.
One need look no further than Michael Allardice, Callum Gibbins and Hamish Northcott for proof that the NZU is a relevant national team on the national rugby landscape, even though it falls outside the New Zealand Rugby high performance area. That trio played for the 2014 NZU and are now in full Super Rugby contracts.
"There is a genuine pathway," said Timmins. "You only have to look back at Conrad Smith and Sam Whitelock, two guys who started with NZU and are now arguably the best in the world in their positions. That's one of the benefits of playing for this team - you get international exposure."
The squad will assemble in Auckland on April 22 and fly out that night for Japan, where they will have three games, including one against what is likely to be a strong Japan East XV in Osaka, before two games against Kanto selections in Tokyo.
The second match will be the curtainraiser to the Japan-Hong Kong test match. Timmins and Forrest, who have both played and coached in Japan, will be there to help the side through tricky restaurant situations, and have organised for the side to travel from Osaka to Tokyo on the bullet train, sure to be a novel experience for the vast majority.
The squad will return to New Zealand on May 7.
NZ Universities squad to tour Japan: Luke Devcich (North Harbour Marist), Matt Faddes (Otago), Gavin Stark (Otago), Te Wehi Wright (Old Boys-University, Wellington), Faasiu Fuatai (Otago), Liam Steel (Auckland), James Waddel (Old Boys-University), Ere Enari (Lincoln), Kurt Davies (Canterbury), Kaide Whiting (Otago), Jack Stratton (Lincoln), James Oliver (Massey, c), Tom Sanders (Lincoln), Sinclair Dominikovich-Murray (Auckland), Sione Tau (Otago), Ian Kennedy (Old Boys-University), Whetu Douglas (Waikato), David Morgan (Waikato), Tom Robinson (Auckland), Robin Praat (Massey), Angus Williams (Otago), Marcel Renata (Auckland), Hame Tamahere (Waikato), Nick Werahiko (Lincoln), Nick Grogan (Massey)