My Account
Patrick Abellera, right, is one of the Wellsford players selected to represent Northland.
School-leaver aged rising rugby stars were left disappointed with the decision by NZ Rugby to cancel all representative level competitions, but Northland Rugby Union has secured a consolation season.
Northland Rugby, North Harbour and Counties Manukau U19 teams will meet for a two-game invitational programme in 2020.
Northland Rugby says the programme will also be used as part of the selection process for its 2021 Jock Hobbs U19 team, so that this year’s players have a fair chance at still becoming representative players.
Local players selected for the 2020 invitational programme include Wellsford’s Patrick Abellera, Brady Foster, Noah Pride, Ethan Whyte and Javarn Porter, plus Kaipara Wolves’ Izayah Frost, Ethan Taylor and Lucas Payne.
“The final selection for the 2021 U19 team will not be limited to this invitational, and there will be further opportunities through club rugby and development programmes in 2021,” the union says.
The lifting of travel restrictions allowed for training to begin in Whangarei on September 6.
