Rugby: Mauger at helm of U-21 rugby team

WELLINGTON - Canterbury's Aaron Mauger will captain New Zealand in the international Southern Hemisphere under-21 rugby tournament at North Harbour Stadium in Albany this month.

The New Zealand squad was selected after a final trial at the Institute of Rugby in Palmerston North.

Mauger, who was understudy to Crusaders and All Black first five-eighths Andrew Mehrtens during this year's Super 12, leads a squad including a host of Super 12, New Zealand sevens and under-19 stars.

Only 10 days after securing an inaugural World Sevens series title in Paris, New Zealand players Orene Ai'i, Mils Muliana, Rodney So'oialo, Jason Tiatia and Amasio Raoma were named in the 28-strong squad.

Other notable selections include Highlanders Carl Hayman and Tom Willis, Blues hooker Keven Mealamu, Wellington and former under-19 flanker Jerry Collins, and Gavin Williams, son of former All Black Bryan Williams.

Champions South Africa will play Australia, Scotland and Fiji (yet to be confirmed) in pool A.

New Zealand will play England, Argentina and Samoa in pool B.

The tournament starts at North Harbour Stadium on June 21.

The final will played as a curtainraiser to the All Blacks v Scotland second test at Eden Park, Auckland, on July 1.

vp+3.5 Squad: Orene Ai'i (Auckland), Josh Blackie (Otago), Ben Blair (Canterbury), Neil Brew (Taranaki), Jerry Collins (Wellington), Clarke Dermody (Southland), Riki Flutey (Wellington), David Gibson (Otago), Carl Hayman (Otago), James King (Wellington), Filipo Levi (Otago), Deacon Manu (Waikato), Seilala Mapusua (Otago), Aaron Mauger (Canterbury), Richard McCaw (Canterbury), Keven Mealamu (Auckland), Malili Muliana (Auckland), Kristian Ormsby (Counties Manukau), Jason Shoemark (Northland), Rodney So'oialo (Wellington), George Stowers (Counties Manukau), Jason Tiatia (Canterbury), Hale Tu'uhoka (Otago), Amasio Raoma (Auckland), Gavin Williams (Auckland), Grant Webb (Otago), Tom Willis (Otago), Tony Woodcock (North Harbour).

-NZPA