A pair of Thames Valley Swampfoxes players have been named in the first ever New Zealand Heartland Under 19 squad today.

Prop Nicholas ‘Nic' Judd and outside back Josh Turner were named in the squad which will compete in the inaugural Jock Hobbs Memorial National U19 Tournament starting this month.

Thames Valley Swampfoxes players Nicholas ‘Nic' Judd and Josh Turner have been named in the first ever New Zealand Heartland Under 19 squad today. Photo: Thames Valley Rugby Union/Allan Turner

The competition has been created to give further opportunities to young school leavers and will be held from September 26 to October 4 at Owen Delany Park in Taupo.

Both Judd and Turner have represented the Thames Valley Union throughout the different age groups, while Judd has also been involved in Chiefs Development camps in the past.

Turner, 18, of Te Aroha feels very privileged to have been selected for the new national team.

'It's a massive thing for me, being from a small town and all. We'll be playing against all the ITM Under 19 teams so I'm looking forward to going up against the bigger unions.

'It's also cool to have Nic in the team too, he's a good player and it's great to have else from the Swampfoxes.”

Judd, 18, of Thames is also 'bloody stoked” to have been named in the squad alongside his Swampfox teammate.

He says hard work this season and securing a spot in the team made it all worthwhile.

Thames Valley Rugby Union development officer Bill Cooksley says their inclusions are an absolutely outstanding achievement.

'This is a great reward for these guys, they both work really hard and we're proud they have been selected.”

For the tournament, games will take place on September28, October 1 and October4, and players will take part in development programmes on non-game days.

The squad includes representatives from each of the 12 Pink Batts Heartland Championship provinces, with 13 players already playing in the Pink Batts Heartland Championship.

Community and Provincial Union Rugby general manager Brent Anderson says this tournament will showcase the best young talent in the country.

'This is a really exciting opportunity for our Heartland Unions. To have each of the 12 provinces represented in this team shows how much talent there is in this age group, across the regions.

"It's fantastic to see the Heartland Unions getting behind this tournament by releasing their players for this team, because the tournament is an important and unique opportunity for these young men.”