Blues flyhalf Simon Hickey will captain New Zealand at the 2014 IRB Junior World Championship to be held in New Zealand in June.

Hickey, who has played six Super Rugby games for the Blues, scoring 78 points, returns having played in last year’s JWC in France.

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He has been entrusted with the leadership by head coach Chris Boyd, and because of his experience the coach is confident is his captain.

“We think Simon will provide some great leadership for the team given his experience both on the field and in this team environment,” Boyd said.

Hickey is joined in the squad by three other backs with Super Rugby experience in Blues wing Tevita Li, Chiefs wing Anton Lienert-Brown and Crusaders scrumhalf Mitchell Drummond.

They face South Africa, Scotland and Samoa in the pool stages.

As for the other players named in the squad, Boyd said the coaching team had been impressed with the standard of talent on offer, including during Monday’s intense trial match in Palmerston North giving them a strong indication of what players would bring into the team.

“We’re pretty happy with the squad we have selected,” Boyd said.

“We’ve got a very hard working and efficient forward pack supported by a very exciting backline with plenty of talent.

“We expect to play a traditional New Zealand style of rugby – a high tempo and expansive style of rugby.

“At the same time, we know that we will need to be strong on defence to off-set other areas of our game.”

On hosting the tournament in New Zealand, Boyd said the players were well aware that playing the Junior World Championship at home was a rare opportunity.

“The boys are aware that this is a special occasion to be playing a tournament in our own back yard. They are looking forward to the challenge of playing at home, but they are also relishing the opportunity to showcase their style of rugby in front of family and friends.

“We are excited that we’ll be able to play in front of our families and we are looking forward to some fantastic support from them and anyone who’s a New Zealand supporter.”

NZ Under-20 squad:

Forwards: Lachlan Boshier (Taranaki), Timothy Cadwallader (Manawatu), Troy Callander (Bay of Plenty), Geoffrey Cridge (Hawke’s Bay), Joshua Dickson (Otago), Epalahame Faiva (Waikato), Kyle Harris (Otago), Mitchell Jacobson (Waikato), Tau Koloamatangi (Waikato), Scott Mellow (Taranaki), Atunaisa Moli (Waikato), James O’Reilly (Wellington), Matthew Peni (Wellington), Tom Sanders (Canterbury), James Tucker (Waikato).

Backs: Mitchell Drummond (Canterbury), Kaveinga Finau (Canterbury), Leon Fukofuka (Auckland), Tinoai Faiane (Auckland), Jackson Garden-Bachop (Wellington), Simon Hickey (Auckland, captain), Tevita Li (North Harbour), Anton Lienert-Brown (Waikato), Damian McKenzie (Waikato), Richard Mo’unga (Canterbury), Joshua Renton (Otago), Vincent Tavae-Aso (Auckland) Tauasosi Tuimavave (Wellington).

NZ U-20 2014 JWC fixtures:

• 2 June: v Samoa (North Harbour)
• 6 June: v South Africa (North Harbour)
• 10 June: v Scotland (Pukekohe)
• 15 June: Play-offs (TBC)
• 20 June: Finals (Auckland)