Otago players prominent in NZ sides

Josh Duff
Josh Duff
Otago has a good representation of players named in the latest Touch Blacks teams.

The national teams were named over the weekend for a series against Australia, to be played on the Sunshine Coast on May 10-14.

Dayna Turnbull and Abbey Johnston have been named in the women's side to take on the Australians.

Turnbull has been a regular in the team for a few years and is one of the key players. She is also coach of the New Zealand women's under-20 side.

Johnston finished at St Hilda's Collegiate last year and has quickly graduated through to the senior side.

King's High School year 13 pupil Josh Duff has been named in the men's side, and will make his national debut at this level.

He has been selected in previous national junior sides but has made the step up to the senior team at a relatively young age.

The national men's team will be coached by Rahul Das, who is also the coach of the University senior men's rugby side.

Dunedin's Toni Wall is the manager of the senior men's national side.

Duff and Johnston both played in the Otago under-13 mixed team back in 2011 and six years later have made the national teams.

In the national mixed team, MacKenzie Haugh has been selected and Damien Burden named the assistant coach of this side.

Haugh plays sevens for Otago and Burden has coached various national teams over the years.

The national touch championships are on in Auckland this weekend.


 

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