New Zealand Steelblacks Colts vs Australia
The New Zealand U19 team has experienced International success in recent years, qualifying for the IFAF U19 World Cup in Ohio, US back in 2009 by upsetting the highly favoured Australian team in The Oceania qualifier and going on to play teams such as Germany, Canada and France in this Tournament. In 2015, the Steelblacks U19 team narrowly lost to Australia 13-7 on the Sunshine Coast in Australia for the qualifier to progress to represent Oceania at the 2016 IFAF U19 World Cup in Harbin, China, but a squad was assembled in 2016 to take on the Australians in a pre-tournament friendly,
A squad was named in early 2016 from the top Club players around Auckland, given Auckland is the only New Zealand region playing Junior American Football in New Zealand. A Coaching Staff was assembled led by Jason Vaka and trainings were held weekly for the months prior to the team crossing the ditch to take on the Australians on their home turf. In a tightly faught battle on the Gold Coast of Australia in June 2016 the New Zealand team went down 21-7 in the end, but played some great football and showed New Zealand are still very competitive in this age group considering the Australian team were fully prepped to head away to the IFAF World Championships.
A squad was named in early 2016 from the top Club players around Auckland, given Auckland is the only New Zealand region playing Junior American Football in New Zealand. A Coaching Staff was assembled led by Jason Vaka and trainings were held weekly for the months prior to the team crossing the ditch to take on the Australians on their home turf. In a tightly faught battle on the Gold Coast of Australia in June 2016 the New Zealand team went down 21-7 in the end, but played some great football and showed New Zealand are still very competitive in this age group considering the Australian team were fully prepped to head away to the IFAF World Championships.
Coaching Staff:
Head Coach: Jason Vaka
Defensive Backs Coach: Corey Meleisea
Linebackers Coach: Wes Mana'o
Defensive Lineman Coach: William Hodgman
Offensive Lineman Coach: Tyler Matia
Running Backs Coach: Danny Tixier
Football Operations: Toi Vaka
Equipment Manager: Jason Matamua & Leah
Head Coach: Jason Vaka
Defensive Backs Coach: Corey Meleisea
Linebackers Coach: Wes Mana'o
Defensive Lineman Coach: William Hodgman
Offensive Lineman Coach: Tyler Matia
Running Backs Coach: Danny Tixier
Football Operations: Toi Vaka
Equipment Manager: Jason Matamua & Leah
