Junior All Blacks

The Junior All Blacks are a New Zealand rugby union team. The Junior All Blacks are not an age grade side, but the second national team behind the New Zealand national rugby union team. For all intents and purposes, they are the "New Zealand A" team.

Junior All Blacks
UnionNew Zealand Rugby Union
Emblem(s)Silver fern
Coach(es)Colin Cooper
Ian Foster
Captain(s)Tamati Ellison
Most capsAnthony Tuitavake (13)
Top scorerStephen Donald (59)
Most triesHosea Gear
Anthony Tuitavake (8)
Team kit
First international
Junior All Blacks 23–19 Australia A
(26 June 2005)
Largest win
Junior All Blacks 57–8 Fiji 
(2 June 2007)
Official website
www.allblacks.com

The present team is actually the second incarnation of the Junior All Blacks. The first team was an age grade side, being players under 23 years old (U23), and played between 1958 and 1984. Additionally, the team played a tour match, as New Zealand A, against visiting England in 1998. The team was reintroduced and repurposed in 2006.[1]

They competed in the inaugural Pacific Nations Cup alongside Fiji, Japan, Samoa and Tonga. In 2007 Australia A joined the competition.

Squad

Squad for the 2009 IRB Pacific Nations Cup:

Note: Flags indicate national union for the club/province as defined by World Rugby.

Player Position Date of birth (age) Caps Club/province
Hika Elliot Hooker (1986-01-22) 22 January 1986 3 Chiefs
Ged Robinson Hooker (1983-06-20) 20 June 1983 0 Hurricanes
Ben Franks Prop (1984-03-27) 27 March 1984 3 Crusaders
Owen Franks Prop (1987-12-23) 23 December 1987 0 Crusaders
Jamie Mackintosh Prop (1985-02-20) 20 February 1985 2 Chiefs
John Schwalger Prop (1983-09-28) 28 September 1983 7 Hurricanes
Craig Clarke Lock (1983-08-01) 1 August 1983 2 Chiefs
Jeremy Thrush Lock (1985-04-19) 19 April 1985 3 Hurricanes
Victor Vito Flanker (1987-03-27) 27 March 1987 4 Hurricanes
George Whitelock Flanker (1986-03-27) 27 March 1986 1 Crusaders
Alby Mathewson Scrum-half (1985-12-13) 13 December 1985 2 Hurricanes
Colin Slade Fly-half (1987-10-10) 10 October 1987 4 Crusaders
Ryan Crotty Centre (1988-09-23) 23 September 1988 3 Crusaders
Robbie Fruean Centre (1988-07-13) 13 July 1988 2 Hurricanes
Tamati Ellison (c) Centre (1983-04-01) 1 April 1983 7 Hurricanes
Hosea Gear Wing (1984-03-16) 16 March 1984 4 Chiefs
Israel Dagg Fullback (1988-07-06) 6 July 1988 3 Crusaders

1958 - 1998

Date Opposition Score Result Notes
2 March 1958Japan3-34Won
9 March 1958Japan6-32Won
23 March 1958Japan3-56Won
3 June 1968Japan23-19Lost
19 May 1974Japan31-55Won
30 August 1975Romania10-10Drew
5 July 1980Italy13-30Won
13 June 1998England10-18Wonas New Zealand A

2006 Programme

Date Opposition Score Result
3 JuneFiji17-35Won
9 JuneSamoa12-56Won
17 JuneTonga10-38Won
24 JuneJapan8-38Won

2007 Programme

Date Opposition Score Result
26 MaySamoa10-31Won
2 JuneFiji8-57Won
9 JuneTonga12-39Won
16 JuneAustralia A0-50Won
23 JuneJapan3-51Won

2009 Programme

Date Opposition Score Result
12 JuneSamoa16-17Won
18 JuneFiji17-45Won
23 JuneJapan21-52Won
2 JulyTonga25-47Won

Overall

Opponent Played Won Lost Drawn Win % For Aga Diff
 Australia A1100100.00%500+50
 England1100100.00%1810+8
 Fiji3300100.00%13742+95
 Italy1100100.00%3013+17
 Japan871087.50%33798+239
 Romania100150.00%1010-
 Samoa3300100.00%10438+66
 Tonga3300100.00%12447+77
Total21191192.86%810258+552

Home grounds

The Junior All Blacks play their Test matches at a variety of venues throughout New Zealand.

North Harbour Stadium was the venue for the first Junior All Blacks Test match in New Zealand against Samoa in 2006.

Venues of Junior All Black Tests in New Zealand

Ground First Test First Test Last Test Tests at that ground Win Percentage
Carisbrook, Dunedin, South Island 2006
v Japan
2006 2007 2 100%
North Harbour Stadium, Auckland, North Island 2006
v Samoa
2006 2006 1 100%
Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth, North Island 2006
v Tonga
2006 2006 2 100%
TOTAL 5 100%

See also

References

  1. Junior All Blacks
  2. "McAlister to work his way up". PlanetRugby.com. 31 May 2009. Archived from the original on 6 June 2009. Retrieved 16 June 2009.
  3. "McAlister back in the AB midfield". PlanetRugby.com. 7 June 2009. Archived from the original on 28 September 2011. Retrieved 16 June 2009.
  4. "Tamati Ellison Named Captain Of Junior All Blacks". Voxy.co.nz. 8 June 2009. Retrieved 16 June 2009.
  5. "James-McGougan-earns-Junior-ABs-call-up". Stuff.co.nz. 10 June 2009. Retrieved 16 June 2009.
  6. "Strong Junior All Blacks line-up named". Yahoo.com. 11 June 2009. Retrieved 16 June 2009.
  7. "Robinson and Bruce to join Junior All Blacks". OceaniaRugby.com. 14 June 2009. Archived from the original on 4 October 2011. Retrieved 16 June 2009.
  8. "MacDonald to join Junior All Blacks". Stuff.co.nz. 20 June 2009. Retrieved 2 July 2009.
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