Big range of players in NZ U20s Junior World Cup
- 18 hours ago
- 3 min read
All Blacks Sevens players Kele Lasaqa and Bradley Tocker have bolstered the New Zealand U20s squad named for the 2026 World Rugby Junior World Championships (JWC) in Georgia.
New Zealand Rugby National Pathways Head Coach Kane Jury and his coaching team have named 30 players with a total of eight changes to the squad that played at the Under 20 Rugby Championship in South Africa in April-May.
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Bay of Plenty wing Lasaqa and Taranaki loose forward Tocker come into the squad after spending the year with the All Blacks Sevens. Lasaqa’s selection comes a day after being named 2026 World Sevens Rookie of the Year.
Other players to come into the squad include Manawatū hooker Alani Fakava, and Blues wider training group members, hooker Xavier Leota and loose forward Jake Hutchings.
Junior Crusaders prop James Moore, Hawke’s Bay midfielder Triumph Voice and former St Thomas of Canterbury College fullback Lautasi Etuale come into the squad after being injured earlier in the year.
Jury said it had been a difficult squad to select due to how many players had impressed the coaches since a wider group was identified in November last year.
“That’s a real testament to the focus the players have had with their development plans and the work they’ve done on and off the field. There has been genuine competition for places and a number of players have forced their way into the squad through club rugby.”
The way the players had turned up physically and mentally was a reflection of NZR’s player pathway working together, he said.
“Kele and Bradley coming through the sevens programme is an example of the dual development pathway available to our emerging players. A big part of how players have presented themselves and the competition for places can be attributed to the guidance and support from their Provincial Union programmes.”
Jury also noted the impact of a recent tight five camp facilitated by All Blacks Assistant Coach Jason Ryan and involving 20 young forwards.
“That was a world class experience for these players and gave them taste of what’s expected of a player aspiring to play at the All Blacks level.”
The squad will assemble for the JWC in Auckland on Sunday 14 June ahead before flying out to Georgia where their pool matches will be against Japan, Scotland and Italy.
An additional 15 players have been named as non-travelling reserves.
The Under 20 JWC 2026 pool match schedule is:
Saturday, 27 June: New Zealand v Japan, AIA Arena Kutaisi, kick-off, 11.30pm NZT
Friday 3 July: New Zealand v Scotland, AIA Arena Kutaisi, kick-off, 2.00am NZT
Tuesday 7 July: New Zealand v Italy, AIA Arena Kutaisi, kick-off, 9.00pm NZT
*All matches will be live and exclusive on Sky Sport.
The 2026 New Zealand U20 squad for the World Rugby Junior World Championship is:
Hookers
Alani Fakava, Hurricanes/Manawatū
Josh Findlay, Crusaders/Canterbury
Xavier Leota, Blues/Auckland
Props
Alexander Hewitt, Hurricanes/Wellington
Dane Johnston, Chiefs/Taranaki
James Moore, Crusaders/Canterbury
Henry Stuart, Highlanders/Otago
Ethan Webber, Highlanders/Otago
Locks
Max Fale, Crusaders/Canterbury
Johnny Falloon Hurricanes/Wellington
Jake Frost, Crusaders/Canterbury
Loose Forwards
Kobe Brownlee, Crusaders/Tasman
Micah Fale, Chiefs/Waikato
Jake Hutchings, Blues/Auckland
Patrick Mauga, Hurricanes/Hawke’s Bay
Bradley Tocker, Chiefs/Taranaki
Caleb Woodley, Blues/Auckland
Halfbacks
Jackson Hughan, Highlanders/Southland
Boston Krone, Blues/Auckland
Charlie Sinton, Chiefs/Bay of Plenty
First five-eighth
Cohen Norrie, Blues/Auckland
Mika Muliaina, Highlanders/Southland
Midfielders
David Lewai, Chiefs/Waikato
Siale Pahulu, Blues/Auckland
Triumph Voice, Hurricanes/Hawke’s Bay
Haki Wiseman, Chiefs/Taranaki
Outside backs
Lautasi Etuale, Crusaders/Canterbury
Oliver Guerin, Chiefs/Waikato
Kele Lasaqa, Chiefs/Bay of Plenty
Logan Williams, Crusaders/Canterbury
Unavailable due to injury: Finn McLeod, Crusaders/Canterbury
Non-travelling reserves:
Charlie Wallis (Blues/Auckland); Emori Balenaisa (Chiefs/Taranaki); Luka Makata (Blues/Auckland); Jericho Wharehinga (Hurricanes/Hawke’s Bay); Nate Bodle, (Crusaders/Canterbury); Zac Taulapapa (Hurricanes/Hawke’s Bay); Alex Arnold, (Highlanders, Otago); Logan Platt (Blues, Auckland); Drew Berg-McLean (Hurricanes/Hawke’s Bay); Charlie Sullivan (Crusaders/Canterbury); Jimmy Taylor (Highlanders/Southland); Angus Revell (Blues/Auckland); JD Van der Westhuizen (Blues/North Harbour); Jay Reihana (Highlanders/Southland); Noah Rogers (Chiefs/Taranaki).
