The wider training squad for the Under 16 New Zealand Hawks for the South Pacific Cup has been named.
From an initial selection of 30 players, the squad will be reduced to a travelling team of 24.
Under 16 New Zealand Hawks – Wider Training Squad
| Te Rei | Clark | Whangarei Boys High School |
| Te Kopa | Tipene-Thomas | Bay of Islands College |
| Kalib | Lewis | Aorere College |
| Francis | Pedersen | St Patrick’s College, Kilbirnie |
| Willem | vander Wilt | Wellington College |
| Christian | Blackie | Otago Boys High School |
| Siope | Ngata | Aorere College |
| Nathan | Lenihan | St Patrick’s College, Silverstream |
| Liam | Caldwell | Whangarei Boys High School |
| Ben | Armstrong | Bay of Islands College |
| Alex | Awatere | Aotea College |
| Jirah | Momoisea | St Pauls College |
| Utusa’itoa | Ah Kuoi | Wellington College |
| Nathan | Peti | Dargaville High School |
| Carlos | Donnell-Brown | Greenbay High School |
| Danny | O’Callaghan | Green Bay High School |
| Brayden | Herewini | Rongotai College |
| James | Watkins | Wellington College |
| Israel | Irving | Dargaville High School |
| Southen | Smith | Bay of Islands College |
| Viance | Vano | St Pauls College |
| Kaleb | Forde – Fraser | Otago Boys High School |
| Sam | Green | Wellington College |
| Naitoa | Ah Kuoi | Wellington College |
| Nathan | Curran | Rosmini College |
| Tyberg | Mauafua | Mission Heights Junior College |
| Connor | McGeough | St Patrick’s College, Silverstream |
| Christian-Jordan | Tupou | St Pauls College |
| Jack | Matheson | St Patrick’s College, Silverstream |
| Phoenix | Cullen | Northcote College |
Head Coach: Mick Coultard – Auckland
Assistant Coach: Shannon Wall – Wellington
Assistant Coach: Mike Gregson – Auckland
Team Manager: Ken Ah Kuoi – Wellington
Physiotherapist: Zak Nichols – Wellington
For many players, the South Pacific Cup will be their first experience of International AFL. The South Pacific Cup takes place in Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, and features the best Under 16 AFL players from the region.
The players were selected after strong performances at the AFL New Zealand Under 16 National Championships. Squad member Te Kopa Tipene-Thomas was declared the overall Best and Fairest at this tournament. Tipene-Thomas has previously represented New Zealand, as part of the Under 16 New Zealand Hawks team that took on the AFL Flying Boomerangs in 2013.
Carlos Donnell-Brown and Brayden Herewini, both part of the squad, were named Best and Fairest winners for their respective teams at the Under 16 National Championships.
Another inclusion in the squad is Hawthorn Hawks International Scholarship holder Siope Ngata. Ngata is the sole member of the squad who has represented New Zealand at Under 16, Under 18 and Senior level.
Scouts from professional AFL clubs take a keen interest in the South Pacific Cup. For players, opportunities exist to be seen by scouts, and to secure an AFL International Scholarship.
