Three Thames Valley players have been named in the 2015 New Zealand Heartland Team to compete at this month's Jock Hobbs Memorial National U-19 Tournament.

Jason Hayward, Jordon May and Alex Robinson are part of the 25 player squad travelling to Taupo for the tournament running from September 27 until October 3, at Owen Delany Park.

After the successful inaugural tournament last year, New Zealand Rugby is making the tournament a regular on the rugby calendar in order to help develop emerging talent in the Under-19s age group.

New Zealand Rugby general manager of community and provincial rugby Brent Anderson, says the tournament was integral to rugby development because it provides players with every reason to stay in the game and aim for higher honours, such as their full provincial side and New Zealand under-20.

'This tournament is about providing a great pathway to equip our best young players to develop their skills for the next level of the game.”

Anderson says it is also a great 'viewing platform” for selectors to keep an eye on emerging talent, particularly after secondary school.

The Heartland team is one of 16 teams competing in the tournament which gathers the best young players nationwide.

Heartland head coach Craig Dunlea says he was excited for his young side.

"This is a very exciting time and great honour for these young men to represent their province. The team has representation from every Heartland Union within the country and some of the players selected have already represented their Pink Batts Heartland Championship team, so it will be a competitive side.

"This tournament gives our Heartland players the opportunity to live and breathe rugby for eight days. They will be getting great exposure to some invaluable development and position specific sessions from quality New Zealand Rugby resource coaches that they may not get access to in the smaller Heartland Unions. "They will make some life-long mates over the time in camp but more importantly get a chance to pit their skills against some of New Zealand's up and coming rugby stars." Used as a stepping stone, the U-19 tournament includes 16 teams; 14 provincial union teams, an additional Auckland B side and a Heartland Unions side. Teams will compete across two divisions (premiership and championship) for the Graham Mourie Cup and the Michael Jones Trophy.

Each squad will be made up of 25 players who currently play club rugby in their Provincial Union and who are under 19 as of 1 January 2015.

The New Zealand Heartland Under 19 squad is: