Maori ABs replace JABs in Pacific Nations 2008.

The New Zealand Maori team will replace the Junior All Blacks in next year's IRB Pacific Nations Cup tournament.

The Junior All Blacks won the first two tournaments in 2006 and 2007 but NZRU professional rugby manager Neil Sorensen said a review of the organisation's High Performance Strategy had identified the need for a change in focus for both the Junior All Blacks and New Zealand Maori in 2008.

"The review has identified the need for New Zealand Maori to play more matches at home and by competing in the Pacific Nations Cup, we will achieve this.

"As for the Junior All Blacks, our concern is that players selected for this team play a huge amount of rugby in the Super 14 followed immediately by a further five weeks of rugby in the Pacific Nations Cup. These players then return to their provinces to prepare for the Air New Zealand Cup. For the sake of player welfare we have decided not to assemble a Junior All Blacks team next year."

So the Maori players don't play in S14 franchises ;) Good move none the less imho.

Exactly my first thought. Close on it's heels was wondering what all the JAB players are going to do instead, especially seeing as how just about anyone is eligible for the Maori side (is it still 1/32nd?). So the end result is likely to be that a whole lot of the Maori team that played last year won't next year, and the Churchill cup is down a team.

I would suggest that they may be going to select more of the squad from clubland rather than S14 teams.
For the JAB's there would be a sense of obligation to select the best of the rest where as with the MAB's they can be a bit more creative.

Perhaps. Bit of a slight on the PNC teams though - sounds a bit like "we'll pull our team down to your level, rather than raise you to ours"

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Originally Posted by AndyS

Perhaps. Bit of a slight on the PNC teams though - sounds a bit like "we'll pull our team down to your level, rather than raise you to ours"

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The Maori have a proud tradition, 50/50 which is the better team between the Maori and JAB, taking into account a lot of players would play for both outfits.

Some points.

- 1/32, forget that just state you are Maori and you are in like Flynn. Actually a couple of Wallabies qualify.

- No news on what they are going to do with the JAB, did someone mention the Churchill Cup.

Still taking a meh attitude towards it, great to see the Maori getting a decent international schedule, but why comes to mind.

Andy you may be right end of day, the NZRU could have decided the one sided results need to be knocked on the head, or as Burgs notes another plan to expose further players to International rugby. On the bright side good chance for some Hawke's Bay players to get noticed :) See it always comes back to the Bay ;)

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Originally Posted by Jethro

- 1/32, forget that just state you are Maori and you are in like Flynn. Actually a couple of Wallabies qualify.

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You can take Lote straight away, if you want!!!

Nah we need a vice captain for Sat.... :D

he better score, thats all i have to say!!!

Goony if he doesn't score i will eat my jumper...or maybe his given he won't be needing it anymore. He is playing inside centre against a second string side....there is no excuse whatsoever for him to not score.

From watching the Poms last night its the 12/13 corridor we should be attacking......watch this space.. :)