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Test and trial for under 19s

Monday 5 July 2010 | Published in Regional

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The Titikaveka Pearls – the classiest and best netball team on Rarotonga – celebrate yet another championship title for their club. "/>

The Cook Islands Rugby Union will be holding trials tomorrow (Tuesday July 6) at the BCI Stadium at Tereora for under 19 rugby players.

The trials will start with initial strength and conditioning testing at 10am and a trial game to be played at 4pm.

Players must have been born in either 1991 or 1992 to be eligible for the under 19 squad.

Nominations have come in from all clubs including Aitutaki, who have their top under 19 players flying in for the testing and trial.

Under 19 coach Damien Beddoes says that they have received an extremely high number of nominations from local clubs.

“In the past players have felt they deserved trials but were denied opportunities by not being nominated,” says Beddoes.

“We are therefore opening the testing and trials to those that believe they have the fitness, skill, dedication and the right attitude to be a true international representative.”

So all under 19 players are asked to meet at the BCI Stadium at 10am for fitness testing in order to be considered for selection.

Beddoes also reports that they have engaged Keith Roberts, New Zealand’s number one strength and conditioning trainer, to complete all the testing.

Roberts has spent over 12 years with the New Zealand sevens team, the 1995 All Blacks World Cup campaign and the Hurricanes to name a few.

“Roberts’s appointment is to assist our players to go to the next level in health, nutrition, rehabilitation, fitness, and strength.”

The local trials will be followed by trials in New Zealand next week for both New Zealand and Australian based players.

The management team includes coach Damien Beddoes, assistant coach George Metuarau, manager Paul Rolton, osteopath Blair Ingram and trainer Keith Roberts.

The World Cup Qualifier will be held in Samoa between August 23 and September 3 with the winner securing entry to the Under 20 World Cup in 2011, and Under 20 World Cup 2012.