Five newbies will join the club’s successful high performance pathway in 2024.
Recent graduates of the programme include Fabian Holland, Sean Withy and Cameron Millar, so the pathway has been a bit of a yellow brick road.
Highlanders talent development manager Kane Jury has rounded up a talented bunch, including two local players — Quinten Holland and Dylan Pledger.
Quinten is the younger brother of Fabian.
The lock-loosie stood out for King’s High School this season and was selected in the New Zealand Schools team.
King’s team-mate Pledger was also named in the side. The talented halfback made the team in 2022 as well.
They will be joined in the programme by lock Josh Tengblad (Sacred Heart College) and midfielder Tayne Harvey (Palmerston North Boys' High School), who were both members of the New Zealand Schools team.
Outside back Josh Augustine (Napier Boys' High School) completes the fab five. He was selected in the New Zealand Barbarians under-18 team and is another player with plenty of potential.
The young men will get the opportunity to train with the Highlanders for a short period and will have the chance to trial for the Highlanders under-20 team, which will represent the region at the annual national tournament in Taupo.
Jury said there was "fierce competition for young rugby talent in our country" and he was thrilled they had selected the Highlanders.
"The fact that these individuals have chosen the Highlanders for their development into full-time professional rugby players, while also pursuing alternative career prospects through study and work opportunities, is a resounding endorsement of our systems," he said.
Other recent members of the programme include Reuben Palmer, Max Ratcliffe, Kyan Rangitutia and Stan McClure, who all represented the Otago under-19 team, while talented midfielder Josh Whaanga debuted for the Otago NPC team this season.
