A Highlanders squad crammed with local talent and some intriguing recruits will head to Taupo this weekend for the Super Rugby under-20 tournament.
It is the fourth year of the event, which features youth squads from the five New Zealand clubs as well as Moana Pasifika, Fijian Drua and the New Zealand Barbarians.
One look at the Highlanders under-20 team from the inaugural game in 2021 indicates the value in the tournament.
It included Fabian Holland and Sean Withy, regular starters in the pack for the senior Highlanders, and Oliver Haig, Nathan Hastie, Cameron Millar and Rohan Wingham, all of whom are part of the squad.
"It provides an awesome opportunity for a number of different players," Highlanders under-20 coach Will Henry said yesterday.
"It’s an opportunity to be seen, and that’s probably even more important for our region because we have a smaller player base."
A feature of the under-20s squad is the amount of genuine local talent.
No fewer than 19 of the 27 players were schooled in the Highlanders region.
"You’ve got to be proud of that," Henry said.
"We always cast the net wide and make sure we look under every stone for talent, but it’s just good recognition for the Otago and Southland regions and the secondary schools that do a great job developing our young fellows."
There are six out of Southland Boys’ High School, who charged to glory in the national First XV competition last year, and five from the John McGlashan team that made it to the top four in 2022.
There are also five — including twin brothers Oliver and William Thode — from Otago Boys’ High School, and three from King’s High School, including New Zealand Schools representatives Dylan Pledger and Quinten Holland.
The captain is ex-McGlashan boy Josh Whaanga, who started all 10 games for Otago in the NPC last year.
"He’s managed to gain a lot of experience in a short amount of time," Henry said.
"Josh has packed in a lot of rugby at differing levels and he’s been great in our environment, helping our lads around things like professional habits."
Experienced coach Dean Moeahu is back for a third year with the team with the attack portfolio, and Henry also has Rugby Southland academy manager Scott Eade and Otago Boys’ coach Regan Turoa on his staff.
The Highlanders under-20 team’s opening game in Taupo is against the Crusaders on Saturday.
Win or lose, they get to play a playoff game on Tuesday and a final placing game the following Saturday.
The Highlanders beat the Chiefs 28-18 in round one last year before a 36-26 loss to the Hurricanes and a 41-22 win over the Barbarians in the third-fourth playoff.
The Blues are defending champions.
Highlanders U20
The squad
Josh Whaanga (captain), Hunter Areaiiti-Burgess, Josh Augustine, Charlie Breen, Keegan Ferguson, JJ Fisher, Quinten Holland, Shaun Kempton, A-One Lolofie, Stan McClure, Liam McIntosh, Samuel Nemec-Vial, Reuben Palmer, Wyndham Patuawa, Eric Peita, Dylan Pledger, Kyan Rangitutia, Max Ratcliffe, Gregor Rutledge, Justin Shaw, Moana Takataka, Taitelea Tasi-Cordtz, Josh Tengblad, Oliver Thode, William Thode, Jack Timu, Caleb Williams.
