Three Otago players will get a rare opportunity to chase a world title on home ground in June.
University A lock Josh Dickson, Kaikorai halfback Josh Renton and Kaikorai flanker Kyle Harris have been named in the New Zealand under-20 squad for the junior world championship.
Dickson and Renton, both out of Otago Boys' High School, have long been groomed for higher honours.
Renton played for Otago in his first year out of school, where he captained the First XV, while the towering Dickson has long been targeted as a young player of rare promise.
The wildcard is Harris, in his second year in the Otago rugby academy out of Dunstan High School. The former rower has an immense work ethic and is seen as an option on either side of the scrum.
Another Otago link in the squad is Troy Callander, a lock-flanker, who signed for Bay of Plenty straight out of Otago Boys', while Wellington midfielder Jackson Garden-Bachop is the son of former Otago All Black Stephen Bachop and former Black Fern Sue Garden-Bachop.
Blues first five-eighth Simon Hickey will captain the side, which also includes Blues winger Tevita Li.
Coach Chris Boyd said an intense trial match in Palmerston North had helped the selectors make the cut.
''We're pretty happy with the squad we have selected. We've got a very hard-working and efficient forward pack supported by a very exciting backline.''
New Zealand has dipped out in the past two tournaments and will be highly motivated to win at home.
''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,'' Boyd said.
The squad is in camp until Saturday.
A pre-tournament camp well be held in Mount Maunganui, starting on May 20.
Five games will be packed into 19 days, with New Zealand's first two pool games at North Harbour Stadium against Samoa (June 2) and South Africa (June 6), rounding off with Scotland in Pukekohe before the June 15 playoffs and June 20 final.
New Zealand under-20
The squad
• Forwards: Lachlan Boshier (Taranaki), Timothy Cadwallader (Manawatu), Troy Callander (Bay of Plenty), Geoffrey Cridge (Hawkes Bay), Josh 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), TJ 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), Josh Renton (Otago), Vincent Tavae-Aso, (Auckland), Tauasosi Tuimavave (Wellington).
