The Junior Kiwis side represents New Zealand in the sport of rugby league. They are commonly known as the Junior Kiwis, after the native bird of that name.

Junior Kiwis
Team information
NicknameKiwis
Governing bodyNZRL
RegionAsia-Pacific
Head coachEzra Howe
CaptainJordan Riki
Uniforms
First colours

Since 2010, they are an under-20s side, with players selected from the NRL, Intrust Super Cup, Intrust Super Premiership, Jersey Flegg Cup and Hastings Deering Colts. They are administered by the New Zealand Rugby League.[1]

History edit

Prior to 2010, the Junior Kiwis consisted of the best New Zealand players aged 18 years or younger and would represent the country against the likes of the Australian Schoolboys, the New South Wales Under 18 side and the England Under 18 side, sometimes as curtain raisers to the senior Kiwi games. Players such as Adam Blair, Thomas Leuluai, Issac Luke, Simon Mannering, Jerome Ropati, Manu Vatuvei and Sonny Bill Williams represented the Junior Kiwis early in their careers and went on to play at the senior level for New Zealand.[2][3]

In 2010, with the advent of the National Youth Competition, the Junior Kiwis was switched to an under 20s team and played in a two Test series against the Junior Kangaroos.[4] From 2011 to 2018, the Junior Kiwis faced the Junior Kangaroos at the end of each season in a one-off Test match, usually as a curtain raiser to a senior level Australia-New Zealand Test match. In 2019, the side faced the Australian Schoolboys. The side reverted to an under-19 side for the fixture.

2010 series edit

1st Test edit

Played as a curtain raiser to the New Zealand-England Four Nations match.

23 October 2010
Junior Kiwis   16 – 24   Junior Kangaroos
Tries
Siuatonga Likiliki 1
Drury Low 1
Shaun Johnson 1
Goals
Shaun Johnson 2
Report
Tries
Dane Gagai 2
Michael Oldfield 1
Justin O'Neill 1
Cameron King 1
Goals
Cameron King 2
Junior Kiwis
2010, 1st Test team Coaching staff

Head coach



Legend:
  • (c) Captain(s)
  • (vc) Vice-captain(s)



2nd Test edit

Played as a curtain raiser to the New Zealand-Papua New Guinea Four Nations match.

30 October 2010
Junior Kiwis   36 – 20   Junior Kangaroos
Tries
Lama Tasi 1
Drury Low 1
Nafe Seluini 1
Martin Taupau 1
Siuatonga Likiliki 1
Carlos Tuimavave 1
Goals
Shaun Johnson 6
Report
Tries
Michael Oldfield 1
Josh Jackson 1
Dane Gagai 1
Justin O'Neill 1
Goals
Cameron King 2
Junior Kiwis
2010, 2nd Test team Coaching staff

Head coach



Legend:
  • (c) Captain(s)
  • (vc) Vice-captain(s)



2011 match edit

Played as a curtain raiser to the Australia-New Zealand pre-Four Nations tournament match. Both coaches agreed to allow an 18th man be used during the match.

16 October 2011
Junior Kangaroos   16 – 28   Junior Kiwis
Tries
Dane Gagai 2
Stewart Mills 1
Kane Evans 1
Goals
Chad Townsend 2
Report
Tries
Sebastine Ikahihifo 2
John Palavi 1
Michael Parker-Walshe 1
Wayne Ulugia 1
Goals
Siliva Havili 3
Sio Siua Taukeiaho 1
Junior Kiwis
2011 team Coaching staff

Head coach



Legend:
  • (c) Captain(s)
  • (vc) Vice-captain(s)



2012 match edit

Played as a curtain raiser to the Australia-New Zealand end of year Test match.

13 October 2012
Junior Kangaroos   48 – 16   Junior Kiwis
Tries
Edrick Lee 2
Jack Wighton 2
Cheyse Blair 1
Tautau Moga 1
David Klemmer 1
Mahe Fonua 1
Jack Stockwell 1
Goals
Jacob Miller 6
Report
Tries
Ngataua Hukatai 2
David Fusitua 1
Carlos Tuimavave 1
Junior Kiwis
2012 team Coaching staff

Head coach



Legend:
  • (c) Captain(s)
  • (vc) Vice-captain(s)



2013 match edit

Junior Kiwis
2013 team Coaching staff

Head coach

  • Brent Gemmell



Legend:
  • (c) Captain(s)
  • (vc) Vice-captain(s)



2014 match edit

18 October 2014
Junior Kiwis   15 – 14   Junior Kangaroos
Tries
Sam Manuleleua 1
Kodi Nikorima 1
Chance Peni 1
Goals
Zach Dockar-Clay 1
Field Goals
Te Maire Martin 1
Report
Tries
Valentine Holmes 2
Jake Mamo 1
Goals
Clinton Gutherson 1
Junior Kiwis
2014 team Coaching staff

Head coach

  • Brent Gemmell



Legend:
  • (c) Captain(s)
  • (vc) Vice-captain(s)



2015 match edit

Played as a curtain raiser to the Papua New Guinea-Fiji Melanesian Cup match and the Samoa-Tonga Polynesian Cup match.

2 May 2015
Junior Kangaroos   22 – 20   Junior Kiwis
Tries
Valentine Holmes 1
Robert Jennings 1
Brenko Lee 1
Tepai Moeroa 1
Goals
Jackson Hastings 2
Valentine Holmes 1
Report
Tries
Watson Heleta 1
Joseph Manu 1
Te Maire Martin 1
Tony Tumusa 1
Goals
Zach Dockar-Clay 2
Junior Kiwis
2015 team Coaching staff

Head coach

  • Kelvin Wright



Legend:
  • (c) Captain(s)
  • (vc) Vice-captain(s)



2016 match edit

Played as a curtain raiser to the Papua New Guinea-Fiji Melanesian Cup match and the Samoa-Tonga Polynesian Cup match.

7 May 2016
Junior Kangaroos   34 – 20   Junior Kiwis
Tries
Nathan Cleary 1
JJ Felise 1
Robert Jennings 1
Brian Kelly 1
Curtis Scott 1
Connor Watson 1
Goals
Nathan Cleary 5
Report
Tries
Mafoa'aeata Hingano 2
Siosifa Talakai 1
Ken Tofilau 1
Goals
Jamayne Isaako 2
Junior Kiwis
2016 team Coaching staff

Head coach

  • Kelvin Wright



Legend:
  • (c) Captain(s)
  • (vc) Vice-captain(s)



2017 match edit

Played as a curtain raiser to the 2017 Anzac Test.

6 May 2017
Junior Kangaroos   46 – 22   Junior Kiwis
Tries
Tyronne Roberts-Davis 2
Reece Robson 2
Corey Allan 1
Jai Field 1
Victor Radley 1
Jaydn Su'A 1

Goals
Jai Field 5
[1]
Tries
1 Dane Aukafolau
1 Jarome Luai
1 Steven Marsters
1 Briton Nikora



Goals
3 Patrick Herbert
GIO Stadium, Canberra, Australia
Referee: Phil Henderson
Junior Kiwis
2017 team Coaching staff

Head coach



Legend:
  • (c) Captain(s)
  • (vc) Vice-captain(s)

Updated: 4 May 2017
Source(s): [2]


2018 match edit

Played as a curtain raiser to the Australia-New Zealand end of year Test match.

13 October 2018
Junior Kiwis   24 – 40   Junior Kangaroos
Tries
Jackson Ferris 1
Steven Marsters 1
Sean Mullany 1
Isaiah Papali'i 1
Joseph Vuna 1
Goals
Chanel Harris-Tavita 2/5
Report
Tries
2 Tino Fa'asuamaleaui
2 Enari Tuala
1 Corey Allan
1 Tom Flegler
1 Louis Geraghty
Goals
6/7 Zac Lomax
Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand
Referee: Chris McMillan
Junior Kiwis
2018 team Coaching staff

Head coach

  • Ezra Howe



Legend:
  • (c) Captain(s)
  • (vc) Vice-captain(s)

Updated: 10 October 2018
Source(s): NZRL


2019 match edit

Played as a curtain raiser to the 2019 Queensland Cup Grand Final.

29 September 2019
Australian Schoolboys   36 – 20   Junior Kiwis
Tries
Max Feagai 1
Jack Howarth 1
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 1
Jackson Topine 1
Sam Walker 1
Reece Walsh 1

Goals
Reece Walsh 6/6
Report
Tries
2 Starford To'a
1 Kayal Iro
1 Selestino Ravutaumada




Goals
2/4 Sione Moala
Dolphin Stadium, Redcliffe, Australia
Referee: Wyatt Raymond
Junior Kiwis
2019 team Coaching staff
  • 14   Temple Kalepo HK
  • 15   Daniel Ticehurst PR
  • 16   Isaiah Vagana LK
  • 17   Junior Pua PR

Head coach

  • Ezra Howe



Legend:
  • (c) Captain(s)
  • (vc) Vice-captain(s)

Updated: 29 September 2019
Source(s): NZRL


Players edit

Captains edit

Coaches edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "New Zealand Rugby League". New Zealand Rugby League. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
  2. ^ "Junior Kiwis win Chase".
  3. ^ "Junior Kiwis Prepare For 2006 Campaign » League Unlimited".
  4. ^ "Junior Kiwis train-on squad named | Stuff.co.nz".

External links edit