A decade on, whatever happened to the Baby Blacks of 2008?
New Zealand's 2008 world championship winning Baby Blacks arrive back in New Zealand.
An Irishman, two Scotsman, a Tongan, the All Black captain, a referee, a lawyer and the boss of a cider company walk into a bar.
It could be the start of a bad joke but it could also be a reunion of the 2008 Baby Blacks.
The New Zealand team was a dominant force at the inaugural world under-20 tournament. The Baby Blacks went through the competition in Wales unbeaten and thrashed England 38-3 in the final on June 22, 2008.
So a decade later, how many of the 23 players listed for the Baby Blacks in that history-making final went on to be All Blacks? And what are they doing now?
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Somewhat surprisingly, from a team that was dominant, just five have pulled on the All Blacks jersey but another four have switched allegiance and played test rugby for other countries
Baby Blacks 2008 co-coaches Russell Hilton-Jones and Dave Rennie with the trophy.
Nineteen of the team went on to play Super Rugby. The 2008 Baby Blacks also produced 11 Māori All Blacks.
The four who did not play Super Rugby have played at National Provincial Championship level - and two of them have represented other countries at test level.
The Baby Blacks conceded just one try in their five victories over Tonga (48-9), Ireland (65-10), Argentina (60-0) and Wales (31-6 in the semifinal) before the final triumph over England at Liberty Stadium in Swansea.
In previous years the world championship had been contested at under-17 and under-19 level.
The championship-winning side was guided by co-coaches Dave Rennie and Russell Hilton-Jones.
New Zealand under-20 38 (Kade Poki, Jackson Willison, Andre Taylor, Ryan Crotty tries; Trent Renata 3, Daniel Kirkpatrick 1 pens; Renata 1, Kirkpatrick 2 cons) beat England under-20 3 (Alex Goode pen). HT 13-3. Crowd: 8537. Man of the match: Daniel Kirkpatrick.
FULLBACK: Trent Renata
Trent Renata in action for the Hurricanes against Fiji at this year's Global Tens.
A Hamilton Boys' High School product, Renata kicked three penalties and a conversion in the 2008 final. He would later represent the Chiefs and Highlanders at Super Rugby level and achieved international honours with the Māori All Blacks. Last year he returned to New Zealand from Italian club Moglianoto to turn out for Wellington in the Mitre 10 Cup. Renata, currently playing for Oriental-Rongotai in the Wellington club competition, represented the Hurricanes at this year's Global Tens and has turned out for the Hurricanes Development XV this season. He had stints with Tasman, Otago, Wellington and won the Ranfurly Shield with Waikato in 2012.
RIGHT WING: Kade Poki
Poki went into the tournament on the back of a Super Rugby championship crown with the Crusaders and showed his class in the world championship campaign. A powerfully built winger, he also spent time at centre during the Baby Blacks campaign and was one of the best backs at the tournament. He scored a try in the final. A former student of Marlborough Boys' College, Poki went on to play for the Highlanders and the Māori All Blacks as well as Tasman and Southland at provincial level. He also had a stint in Japan with Kubota Spears. Poki has played three seasons for Bayonne in France but will spend the 208/19 season in lower level club rugby in France.
Kade Poki and the 2008 trophy on the day the Baby Blacks arrived back in New Zealand.
CENTRE: Jackson Willison
A try scorer in the final, Willison became a mainstay of Waikato's backline until he headed overseas in 2014. Another Māori All Black, Willison had an extensive Super Rugby career with the Chiefs and the Blues. A former Waikato captain, he won a Super Rugby title with the Chiefs in 2012. The former Hamilton Boys' High School student headed to France to play for Grenoble in 2014 and then spent two seasons with the Worcester Warriors. He will turn out for Bath in the upcoming season.
SECOND FIVE-EIGHTH: Ryan Crotty
Another who scored a try in the final, Crotty has developed into a key member of the All Blacks midfield. He started in the first two tests against France but has been rested for Saturday's third test after he left the field with a head knock last week. Crotty, who attended Shirley Boys' High School, has been a loyal servant for Canterbury and the Crusaders over the last decade. The 2008 world championship was a satisfying victory for Crotty who had snapped an ankle early in the 2007 under-19 final. Crotty, who made his All Black debut in 2013, has gone on to play more than 100 matches for the Crusaders and has played 37 tests for the All Blacks.
Zac Guildford played for Waikato in last year's Mitre 10 Cup.
LEFT WING: Zac Guildford
The speedy winger went into the tournament fresh from his first Super Rugby season with the Hurricanes. He would later play 10 tests for the All Blacks but his career had its challenges with battles with alcohol and depression. A Napier Boys' High School product, Guildford enjoyed many successful seasons with Hawke's Bay that included a Ranfurly Shield tenure. He also represented the Māori All Blacks and Crusaders. In recent years he turned out for the Waikato sevens side and Wairarapa Bush in the Heartland Championship. In 2017 he was a key part of Waikato's Mitre 10 Cup campaign. Frustrated that he could not gain a Super Rugby contract for the 2018 season, Guildford headed back overseas to play for French club Nevers.
FIRST FIVE-EIGHTH: Daniel Kirkpatrick
A former Napier Boys' High School student, Kirkpatrick was one of the star players of the 2008 tournament and was named man of the match in the final. He went on to play for the Hurricanes and Blues before shifting his focus to France in 2012. He spent four years playing for Castres then another two with SC Albi. Like Renata, he also turned out for Wellington in the 2017 Mitre 10 Cup. He has previously played for Hawke's Bay at provincial level. In 2018, Kirkpatrick is back with the Blues for another Super Rugby stint.
Daniel Kirkpatrick was the man of the match for the Baby Blacks 2008 final victory over England.
HALFBACK: Grayson Hart
Hart, who ended up playing test rugby for Scotland, somewhat surprisingly got the nod over Aaron Smith for the final. The nephew of former All Blacks coach John Hart, he had Super Rugby stints with the Blues and Waratahs before heading to the northern hemisphere. The former Mount Roskill Grammar first 1st XV player represented Scotland in three tests back in 2014. He qualified through a grandparent. He has also played sevens for Scotland. Hart played at provincial level for Auckland and North Harbour before he left New Zealand. He has signed for London Scottish for the 2018/19 season after previously turning out for the Worcester Warriors.
Grayson Hart playing for the Scotland sevens side in France last year.
NO 8: Nasi Manu
Like Poki, Manu went into the 2008 tournament fresh from a Super Rugby championship victory with the Crusaders. He made his Canterbury debut the previous year. In 2010 Manu moved south to link up with the Highlanders for five seasons. He headed to Scottish club Edinburgh on a high after the Highlanders' 2015 Super Rugby victory over the Hurricanes. Manu, who attended Christchurch Boys' High School, played 72 games for Canterbury which included national championship and Ranfurly Shield victories. Many considered Manu unlucky not to play for the All Blacks but he did make his test debut for Tonga earlier this year. He currently plays for Italian club side Treviso.
OPENSIDE FLANKER: Luke Braid
A classic fetcher and gritty defender who would go on to captain the Blues and win selection for the Māori All Blacks. Braid was small in stature but big on work rate. He had Super Rugby stints at the Chiefs and the Blues. Braid left New Zealand in 2014 to take up a contract with French club Bordeaux-Begles where he is still plying his trade. The Tauranga Boys' College product played for both Auckland and Bay of Plenty at provincial level. Braid is the younger brother of former All Black Daniel Braid. Their father Gary Braid was also an All Black.
Luke Braid went on to captain the Blues before heading to France.
BLINDSIDE FLANKER: Peter Saili
The strong running loose forward played 71 games for the Blues. He made his debut in 2009 but was released under a cloud of controversy before the 2015 season. The older brother of former All Blacks and Blues midfielder Francis Saili, he headed for France to take a contract with Bordeaux but has since moved to another French club Pou. Saili was educated at St Peter's College.
LOCK: Sam Whitelock
Will lead the All Blacks into battle against France at Dunedin on Saturday night, but a decade ago Whitelock was just one of the boys in the champion under-20 side. Shortly after the tournament win, he made his provincial debut for Canterbury. Whitelock, who was educated at Feilding High School, made his Super Rugby debut for the Crusaders in 2010. Now a veteran of more than a century of Super Rugby games, Whitelock has won Super Rugby Championships, World Cups and is widely regarded as one of the premier locks in the world.
Sam Whitelock is now the All Blacks captain.
LOCK: Chris Smith
Chris Smith captained the 2008 world championship winning side and if there was an award for dux of the team he would hold that title too. Smith went on to play more than 50 games for North Harbour and also turned out for the Blues in Super Rugby. But it was off the field where Smith, who was educated at Westlake Boys' High School, really made his mark. He juggled his rugby career with studies towards a law degree. He later spent time in Washington DC working with the NFL Players' Association's legal team. The first man to ever hoist the under-20 world championship cup above his head now works as legal counsel for New Zealand cricket.
Chris Smith was the captain of the 2008 Baby Blacks.
TIGHTHEAD PROP: Ben Afeaki
Afeaki was a star at the 2008 tournament and later made it to the top level. He made his test debut for the All Blacks in 2013 but his career was cut short by ongoing concussion symptoms. He took a heavy knock in February 2014 when playing for the Chiefs against the Crusaders. He eventually retired from rugby in April 2015. The former North Harbour and Māori All Blacks prop, who was educated at Sacred Heart College, has continued to work in rugby. He currently works as a scrum coach for the Blues.
Ben Afeaki retired due to ongoing concussion issues and is now the Blues Scrum coach.
HOOKER: Ash Dixon
A former Hurricanes and Blues player who has found a permanent home at the Highlanders, Dixon won a Super Rugby title with the southern men in 2015. A longtime Hawke's Bay representative, Dixon was part of the Hawke's Bay Ranfurly Shield-winning side in 2014. Dixon, who has captained the Māori All Blacks, played his first XV rugby at Christchurch Boys' High School.
LOOSEHEAD PROP: Paea Fa'anunu
The hulking prop returned from the 2008 tournament to debut for Auckland just months after helping the Baby Blacks win the world championship. He again turned out for Auckland in 2009 before representing Northland in 2010 and then Canterbury in 2011. Fa'anunu, who played first XV rugby for Kelston Boys' High School, left New Zealand to join French club Montpellier in 2013 and is currently plying his trade for another French club Castres. He has gone on to play test rugby for Tonga.
RESERVES
Quentin MacDonald played 78 games for the Tasman Makos.
Quentin MacDonald: A hard running hooker out of Marlborough Boys' College, MacDonald played for the Crusaders, Chiefs and Blues at Super Rugby level. The former Māori All Blacks representative made his debut for the Tasman Makos in 2008. MacDonald played for Munster in 2014 but returned for his second stint at the Makos in 2015. He played 78 matches for the Makos in total. The following year he joined his current French club Oyonnax.
Rodney Ah You: Another player from the victorious 2008 team to represent a country other than New Zealand, Ah You played three tests for Ireland in 2014. A product of Christchurch Boys' High, Ah You made his Canterbury debut in 2009 but left the province a year later to play for Connacht in Ireland. Three years later he qualified for Ireland on residency terms and he made the first of his three test appearances in 2014. Currently playing for Irish club Ulster.
Josh Townsend is retired from rugby and is now the chief executive of cider company Zeffer.
Josh Townsend: A lock who began his career in Christchurch before stints with Otago and Auckland, Townsend is another high achiever away from rugby. Townsend - a noted rower at Christchurch Boys High School alongside Nasi Manu - headed to Otago University following his school days. He played seven games for Otago in 2010 and five games for Auckland in 2011. Townsend retired from rugby in his mid-20s and is now the chief executive of New Zealand cider company Zeffer.
Hugh Reed: Yet another Christchurch Boys High School product, Reed - a rugged loose forward or lock - was bracketed on the bench with Mathew Luamanu for the final. Reed moved to Hawke's Bay in 2008 alongside Ash Dixon. Reed, who played nine first-class games for the Magpies from 2008-2011, retired in his mid-20s following a knee injury and made his debut as a referee in the 2015 season. By 2017 he had graduated to officiating at Heartland Championship and ITM Cup level. Reed is currently refereeing club rugby in the Hawkes Bay.
Hugh Reed has retired from rugby and has started a promising career as a referee.
Mathew Luamanu: A product of St Patricks College Silverstream, the hard running loose forward was bracketed on the bench with Hugh Reed for the final. Luamanu returned from the tournament to make his provincial debut for Wellington in the 2008 NPC. He transferred to North Harbour in 2010 where a standout season at No 8 earned him a Super Rugby contract with the Blues in 2011. He headed overseas in 2012 to play for Japanese side Kyuden Voltex before linking with Italian club Benetton Treviso but has now moved on to Harlequins.
Aaron Smith: The current All Black halfback started from the bench in the 2008 final victory. He also spent time in the sin-bin after being handed a yellow card for not rolling away in the tackle. He made his Māori All Blacks debut in 2010 and was capped as an All Black for the first time in 2012. Educated at Feilding High School, Smith made his provincial debut for Manawatu when he returned from the tournament in the 2008 NPC. Saturday's third test against France will be his 74th test for the All Blacks.
All Black halfback Aaron Smith had to settle for a spot on the bench in the Baby Blacks 2008 final victory over England.
Sean Maitland: Another member of the 2008 team who went on to play international rugby - Maitland did it for Scotland. Along with Poki and Manu, he was also a member of the championship-winning Crusaders in 2008. He moved to the Glasgow Warriors at the end of the 2012 season. Maitland, who attended Hamilton Boys' High School, represented the Māori All Blacks in 2010. He qualified for Scotland through his grandparents and made his test debut in 2013. He represented Scotland at the 2015 World Cup and was selected for the British and Irish Lions' tour of Australia in 2013. After a stint with London Irish, Maitland now plays for Saracens.
Sean Maitland now plays test rugby for Scotland.
Andre Taylor: The speedy outside back came off the bench to score a try in the world championship final. He took plenty of experience into the tournament after making his provincial debut for Manawatu in 2007 while still a student at Palmerston North Boys' High School. The former Manawatu, Taranaki, Hurricanes and Māori All Blacks outside back currently plays for Japanese club Sanix and has not given up hope of representing Japan at the 2019 World Cup.
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