Under 20's trying for three-peat

Marist's Mitchell Millar and the Wanganui Under 20 team want to win their three August matches to retain the Hurricanes Development Under 20 trophy.

Wanganui Under 20 will be looking to their lightning quick backline to help keep the Hurricanes Development Series trophy in the cabinet for a third straight year when their campaign kicks off in Gisborne tomorrow.

The defending champions will face Poverty Bay at Rugby Park, before having their other matches against Horowhenua-Kapiti and Wairarapa-Bush on the weekend of August 12-13 at the Sport & Rugby Institute in Palmerston North.

Of the 25 man squad, most of them played in the Tasman Tanning Premier competition this year, along with four members of the St Johns Club Whanganui Metro squad from the Manawatu Colts competition, and one player - Kelso Hunterville's Leigham Harding - from Senior club rugby.

Four members of the team were members of the 2016 New Zealand Heartland Under 19's - Wanganui Car Centre Kaierau's Ethan Robinson, Settler's Honey Ngamatapouri's Jessy Kemp and PGG Wrightson/Balance Taihape's Dylan Gallien and Hamish Bennett.

Because ten players were involved in last weekend's Club Finals day, last night's training session at Spriggens Park was the squad's only hit out as a group before the opening match - unlike 2016 where the bulk of the squad, without their Metro players, had one preseason fixture.

"It's a short window, but we'll be fine," said coach Jerome McCrea, who takes over from Denis Edwards at this level after guiding the Wanganui Under 18's last season

"On paper, it's a great side, we're quite excited about it."

With the likes of Kemp, Pirates' Junior Ainea and especially Border's Harry Symes in the backs, the team has natural pace which would give them a real advantage on a dry track.

"We've got some speed alright, that will be the plan - just get them some forward ball," said McCrea.

This campaign also presents further opportunity to press for higher honours as a first ever Hurricanes Heartland Under 20's squad will be named at the conclusion of the tournament, chosen from the four teams plus Ngati Porou East Coast players.

That Heartland squad will enter the Hurricanes Central Region Shield (Under 19) competition in Taupo against Wellington, Manawatu and Hawkes Bay.

"Quite a few of our guys are striving for that, to make that team," said McCrea.

"Their best pathway is through the Heartland side first."

From there, those players who are age eligible will be in consideration for the New Zealand Heartland team which will enter the the Jock Hobbs Memorial Under 19 tournament, also played in Taupo this September.

The Wanganui team is

David Mariner (Metro), Shaquille McKay, (Ngamatapouri), Blade Jones (Metro), Dylan Gallien (Taihape), Faamanu Pulemagafa (Pirates), Lochie Steedman (Metro), Hamish Bennett, (Taihape), Patrick Parker (Marist), Gordan Coogan (Utiku), Corbin Warren (Metro), Chris Breuer (Border), Dylan Bowater (Kaierau), Dale Akuhata (Ratana), Cameron Davies (Kaierau), Jack Kinder (Taihape), Mitchell Miller (Marist), Ethan Robinson (Kaierau), Junior Ainea (Pirates), Sheldon Pakinga-Manhire (Ngamatapouri), Harry Symes (Border), Luke Foster (Marist), Lachlan Blackstock (Marist), Jessy Kemp (Ngamatapouri), Leigham Harding (Hunterville), Shaquille Waara (Ruapehu).