NZ U23 Major Sox head Coach Steven Deans, alongside newly appointed Assistant Coach Craig Wallace, have named a 40-man training squad in preparation for the WBSC U-23 Men's World Cup in 2026 .

Head Coach Deans is excited with the talent that the new crop of Under 23's have to offer. With a new cycle starting, the management team are looking forward to developing the team to be contenders for the next World Cup.

"Softball New Zealand have aligned the men's program from Under 15's Developing Sox, through to our NZ Black Sox. It gives the U23’s Major Sox real opportunities to compete against the worlds best players in their own age group. The exposure to international softball is invaluable and helps bridge the gap to the Black Sox squad. We have a number of options available for the team over the next 2 years and we are working closely with Softball NZ to identify the best direction to maximum the groups development" said Deans.

Trainings will kick off in the Hutt Valley over Labour Weekend (October) where the training squad will spend time setting goals for the group and begin team bonding while getting to know each other. The coaching team will share what is required both physically and mentally to compete at the highest level.

Congratulations to the following athletes who have been named in the
2024 U-23 MAJOR SOX TRAINING SQUAD:

• Devon Carr (Auckland)
• Oscar Clark (Auckland)
• Ryan Earley (Auckland)
• Jacob Lee (Auckland)
• Shiloh Rice (Auckland)
• Luke Roberts (Auckland)
• Max Russell (Auckland)
• Ethan Shannon (Auckland)
• Harrison Wildbore (Auckland)
• Traye Wildbore (Auckland)
• Reuben Elkins (Canterbury)
• Hapene Kumeroa (Canterbury)
• Leon Lumb (Canterbury)
• Jayden Potts (Canterbury)
• Liam Potts (Canterbury)
• Hunter Simpson (Canterbury)
• Jacob Neale (Canterbury)
• Cohen Bailey (Counties Manukau)
• Jayden Priestley (Counties Manukau)
• Kahu Beamsley-Allen (Hawkes Bay) 
• Nopera Tangaroa (Hawkes Bay) 
• Jax Baldwin (Hutt Valley)
• Dallas Clifton (Hutt Valley)
• Josh Kennedy(Hutt Valley)
• George McCarroll(Hutt Valley)
• Josh McCarroll(Hutt Valley)
• Tane Mumu(Hutt Valley)
• Zahr Shaw-Wallace (Hutt Valley)
• Caleb Taylor (Hutt Valley)
• Jaden Hita (Manawatu)
• Jesse Fuller (North Harbour)
• JP Gerbes (North Harbour)
• Jamieson Graham (North Harbour)
• Caleb Koko (North Harbour)
• Jono Little (North Harbour)
• Levi Wilson (North Harbour)
• Ciaran Bolger (Wellington)
• Te Kirika Cooper-Nicola (Wellington)
•  Arron Gollan (Wellington)
• Rikaiah Te Wheoro (Western Bay of Plenty)
   

Te Kirika Cooper-Nicola, Oscar Clark, Tane Mumu, Liam Potts and Ethan Shannon are returning after the 2023 Inaugural WBSC U-23 Men's World Cup in Argentina.

Article added: Monday 29 July 2024