NZ U20 Rugby: 30-Man Squad Named for 2026 Championship in South Africa

New Zealand Rugby has officially announced the 30-player squad selected to represent the country at the 2026 Under 20 Rugby Championship in South Africa. National Pathways Head Coach Kane Jury confirmed the roster on April 1, 2026, marking the beginning of the campaign for the Junior All Blacks in the annual Sanzaar tournament.

The New Zealand U20s are scheduled to compete in three matches at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha, Port Elizabeth. The tournament runs from April 28 to May 10, 2026, featuring fixtures against Australia, Argentina, and the host nation, South Africa. This competition serves as a critical development pathway for emerging talent within the New Zealand rugby system.

Tournament Schedule and Kick-off Times

The match schedule has been confirmed with all kick-off times listed in New Zealand Time (NZT). The opening fixture sees New Zealand face Australia, followed by matches against Argentina and South Africa to conclude the championship.

• Tuesday 28 April: New Zealand v Australia, kick-off, 12.00am NZT
• Monday 4 May: New Zealand v Argentina, kick-off, 12.00am NZT
• Sunday 10 May: New Zealand v South Africa, kick-off, 2.10am NZT

The squad composition reflects a blend of experience and new talent. Six players return from the team that narrowly lost to South Africa in the previous year’s Under 20 Rugby Championship. Five members of the current squad possess playing experience in the National Provincial Championship (NPC), providing veteran leadership within the age-grade group.

Selection Process and Development Programme

Selection for the championship squad followed the recent Under 20 Development Programme held in Taupō. Coach Jury noted that the players earned their places through their efforts during this intensive camp, which served as the primary evaluation period for the national selectors.

The week was a standout success, both on and off the field. One hundred of our most promising players arrived eager to learn, compete, and showcase their talent – and they delivered in spades.

Kane Jury, NZR National Pathways Head Coach

Jury expressed optimism regarding the potential of the selected group as they prepare for international competition. He highlighted the broader goals of the programme beyond immediate results.

As we head into The Rugby Championship, there’s genuine excitement about this group around who they are, who they can become, and how we can contribute to the legacy of this team.

Kane Jury, NZR National Pathways Head Coach

The selection panel was led by Jury alongside Assistant Coaches Brock James, James Lentjes, and Will Henry. NZR High Performance Talent Identification Manager PJ Williams contributed detailed insights and data to support the decision-making process during the selection phase.

Squad Composition and Regional Representation

The 30-player squad features representation from across the country’s Super Rugby clubs and provincial unions. The roster includes players from the Crusaders, Blues, Hurricanes, Chiefs, and Highlanders. Positional depth is covered across all forward and backline roles, including hookers, props, locks, loose forwards, halfbacks, first five-eighths, midfielders, and outside backs.

Regional reporting indicates strong representation from the Wellington area within the wider squad. Current Wellington players selected in the team include prop Alex Hewitt from the Upper Hutt Rams and lock Johnny Falloon from Old Boys University. Hewitt is noted as the son of late Wellington NPC winning captain and All Black Norm Hewitt. Prop Corban King from Marist St Pat’s has been named as a non-traveling reserve.

Former St Pat’s Silverstream hooker Jericho Wharehinga, now with Hawke’s Bay, has been selected in the traveling squad. His school teammate and former HOBM flanker Drew Berg-McLean, also now with Hawke’s Bay, joins King as a non-traveling reserve. Other current Hurricanes region players include flanker Patrick Mauga of Hawke’s Bay and Zacherye Taulapapa, who is listed as a non-traveling reserve.

Travel Plans and Reserve Camp

Logistical preparations are underway for the team’s departure. One additional player will be added to the squad before the group flies out to South Africa on April 20, 2026. Alongside the main squad, nine non-traveling reserves will attend a pre-departure camp at the New Zealand Campus of Innovation & Sport in Wellington from April 12 to April 19, 2026.

The reserve camp schedule includes a warm-up match against the Hurricanes Hunters development team. This fixture is set for Saturday, April 18, 2026, at 12pm. This match provides an opportunity for reserves to demonstrate their readiness should they be required to join the main group.

Standby Players

In addition to the traveling squad and non-traveling reserves, seven players have been named on standby for the wider group. These players remain available should injuries or other circumstances require further reinforcements before or during the tournament.

• Nate Bodle, Crusaders, Canterbury (Prop)
• Jake Hutchings, Blues, Auckland (Loose Forward)
• Suli Pahulu, Chiefs, Taranaki (Loose Forward)
• Luke Atikinson, Crusaders, Canterbury (Midfield)
• Jacob McKinnon, Blues, Auckland (Outside Back)
• Leo Marfell, Crusaders, Tasman (Outside Back)
• Noah Rogers, Chiefs, Taranaki (Outside Back)

The announcement confirms New Zealand’s commitment to developing the next generation of rugby talent through high-performance pathways. The squad will focus on preparation over the coming weeks before departing for the Southern Hemisphere championship.