Rugby: U20s squad heavy on Super Rugby players

Blues player Tevita Li is one of seven contracted Super Rugby players in the squad. Photo / Richard Robinson

Tevita Li will look to relaunch his stagnating Super Rugby career from the team for which he showed all his dangerous wares in 2014.

The left wing was dropped by the Blues a few weeks ago and played for his Massey club last weekend, but is one of 31 named in the New Zealand Under 20s to play in next month's Oceania Under 20 championship on the Gold Coast.

He is one of seven contracted Super Rugby players in the squad, the others being Leni Apisai, Vince Aso, Otere Black and Geoff Cridge of the Hurricanes, Anton Lienert-Brown (Chiefs), and Blake Gibson (Blues).

Li was one of the star turns in the 2014 Junior World Championship in Auckland, scoring six tries with some deadly finishing, and will be keen to rediscover his mojo in what looks a strong selection even without, at this stage, other eligible Super reps in Damian McKenzie and Akira Ioane.

No fewer than seven will be amped for bigger things after the disappointments of the 2014 Under 20s' campaign, which foundered at the semifinals stage to South Africa.

Several of the squad have played ITM Cup or came through the national Under 19 tournament in Taupo last October, a prime scouting opportunity for the selectors, Scott Robertson, Leon MacDonald and Tana Umaga.

"Some very good young players have missed out on this selection but it does show how strong the competition for places has been," said head coach Robertson.

"In the end, with so many good players available to us, we have selected on form, and rewarded those who have worked hard over the past several months."

The pathway from NZ Schools to Under 20s and ITM Cup is evident with no fewer than 11 from the 2013 NZ Schools in this squad, including the captain, Mitch Jacobson, who was in the 2014 mix.

New Zealand will play three games in nine days against Japan, Samoa and Australia. This represents a far more meaningful programme for the side ahead of June's Junior World Championship in Italy, a tournament New Zealand have not won since 2011.

The squad assembles in Auckland from April 24.

NZ Under 20s squad
Mitch Hunt, TJ Faiane, Vince Aso, Isi Tu'ungafasi, Liam Polwart, Mitch Karpik, Blake Gibson (Auckland), Jonathan Fa'auli, Jack Goodhue, George Bridge, Luteru Laulala, Tom Hill, Mitchell Dunshea, Hamish Dalzell, Josh Goodhue (Canterbury), Geoff Cridge (Hawkes Bay), Otere Black (Manawatu), Tevita Li (North Harbour), Ricky Riccitelli, Dillon Hunt, Fletcher Smith (Otago), Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi (Taranaki), Harrison Levien, Anton Lienert-Brown, Mitch Jacobson, Atu Moli, Tau Koloamatangi (Waikato), Wes Goosen, James Blackwell, Teariki Ben-Nicholas, Leni Apisai (Wellington)