Fleet-Footed Showdown for NZ’s Best Junior Touch Players

Media Release attached, copy below:

2011 Under 15 & 17 National Touch Championship
Fleet-Footed Showdown for New Zealand’s Best Junior Touch Players
Friday 18th March to Sunday 20th March, 2011, Ashurst Domain, Palmerston North
The last major Touch tournament of the year beings this Friday in Palmerston North as hundreds of Under 15 and Under 17 Touch players come together to represent their Province and regions in an intense three-day competition. This year’s introduction of a Mixed grade has seen entries increase to 52 participating teams – Ashurst Domain will be bursting with Touch action.

The Under 15 Boys Grade features Waikato return to defend their title against the likes of Auckland and Bay of Plenty who were strong contenders last year. North Harbour dominated in the Under 15 Girls final while runners-up Auckland will be looking to make amends. The Under 17 Boys Grade is wide open with 2010 champions North Harbour not entering a team; the Under 17 Girls final last year featured Counties Manukau holding off Waikato and both teams return in 2011.

Championships won’t be the only thing on offer for the players as each grade will also be assessed by selectors. MVPs and six New Zealand squads will be named following the tournament and these teams will tour Australia later in the year. The experience gained is an invaluable part of the pathway into the Youth Trans Tasman teams and Touch Blacks (Open squads).

Grade and Competing Team Lists

Under 15 Boys Grade
Waikato (2010 Champions)
Bay of Plenty (2010 3rd Place)
Auckland (2010 4th Place)
Counties-Manukau (2010 5th Place)
Central Force (combined Hawkes Bay, Manawatu, Taranaki, Wanganui) (2010 6th Place)
North Harbour (2010 7th Place)
Kapiti-Horowhenua (2010 8th Place)
Wellington (2010 9th Place)
Southland

Under 15 Girls Grade
North Harbour (2010 Champions)
Auckland (2010 Runner-Up)
Counties-Manukau (2010 4th Place)
Waikato (2010 6th Place)
Central Force (2010 7th Place)
Wellington (2010 8th Place)
Kapiti-Horowhenua (2010 9th Place)

Under 15 Mixed Grade
Auckland
Bay of Plenty
Central Force
Counties-Manukau
Kapiti-Horowhenua
North Harbour
Otago
Tasman
Waikato
Wellington

Under 17 Boys Grade
Waikato (2010 Runner-Up)
Bay of Plenty (2010 4th Place)
Auckland (2010 5th Place)
Counties-Manukau (2010 6th Place)
Wellington (2010 7th Place)
Central Force (2010 8th Place)
Kapiti-Horowhenua (2010 9th Place)
Canterbury

Under 17 Girls Grade
Counties-Manukau
(2010 Champions)
Waikato (2010 Runner-Up)
Auckland (2010 3rd Place)
Central Force (2010 5th Place)
Bay of Plenty (2010 6th Place)
Wellington (2010 7th Place)
Canterbury
Tasman (combined Marlborough and Nelson Bays)

Under 17 Mixed Grade
Auckland
Bay of Plenty
Central Force
Counties-Manukau
Kapiti-Horowhenua
North Harbour
Otago
Southland
Waikato
Wellington

If you would like to follow the progress daily with draws and results, plus news of the day you can do so at www.touchnz.co.nz and follow the link on the home page. Should you wish to interview any of the participating athletes please let me know and I will arrange it for you.

ENDS

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