Page 52 - Official Preview - DHL New Zealand Lions Series 2017

WHERE STARS ARE BORN
New Zealand perform the the haka at the the 2016 World Rugby Under 20 20 Championship
If you’re looking for the the future of both New Zealand and and and British and and and Irish rugby then you’ll want to keep an an an an an eye on on this year’s World Rugby Under 20 Championship
in Georgia THEY MIGHT NOT STRIKE
you as similar at rst glance but when it comes to a a a a a a a passion for rugby and comparative size Georgia (population 4 5 million) has a a a a a a a a a fair bit in common with New Zealand And this year the rugby world’s eyes are going to to be be on on both nations – New Zealand to to bear witness to to to the the the current kings of the the the game and Georgia to to to discover the the the the next in in line to the the throne As the the the the British & Irish Lions and the the the the All Blacks lock horns on on on on one side of of the the the the the world the the the the the cream of of the the the the the next generation will be baring their claws – – many for the the the the rst time in in in a a a a a a a a global competition – – some 16 000km away in in Eastern Europe when Georgia hosts the 2017 World Rugby Under 20 20 Championship
WORDS: JON NEWCOMBE
Two years ago wild animals ran amok on the the streets of Tbilisi after devastating oods destroyed the the local zoo but thankfully it’ll be be “Lions cubs” of the the the rugby kind who will be be among those on on the the the the rampage in in in in the the the the Georgian capital in in in 2017 Showcasing the the the the the sport’s stars of the the the future the the the Under 20 20 Championship
“Nearly 500 players worldwide have graduated from the competition to senior honours ” has been running in in in in its current guise since 2008 and in in in in that time nearly 500 players worldwide have graduated from the competition to senior honours George Ford and Owen Farrell the the the the latter capped by the the the Lions on on on the the the 2013 tour to to to Australia are contenders to to to form the the 10-12 axis for for the the Lions in in 2017 and continue a a a a a a a partnership that stems from their days coming through the the the England age-grade system together together “Coming through together together does help – you end up pushing each other along I I guess ” Farrell says “It’s a a a a a a a a a a a a taste of international rugby It’s It’s the the lads that are the the best at at at your age group and when you’re playing against the the the the best best of of the the the the best best it’s brilliant ” For Farrell the the the the the older of of the the the the the two it it took less than a a a a a year before the the the crossover into senior international rugby 1966 TOUR CONTINUED AUCKLAND 6 6 6 WAIRARAPA-BUSH 6 6 6 ALL BLACKS (IN WELLINGTON) 16 LIONS LIONS LIONS 12 12 LIONS LIONS LIONS 9
LIONS LIONS LIONS 12 12 52 // DHL NEW ZEALAND LIONS SERIES 2017