New Zealand U20s named for South Africa

Alex Hewitt on the charge in last year’s Hardham VC Memorial Cup final. Photo: Andy McArthur. Hewitt, the son of late Wellington NPC winning captain and All Black Norm Hewitt, is one of three current Wellington players in the wider 2026 NZ U20 squad named today. 

A 30-player New Zealand U20 squad has been selected to contest the 2026 Under 20 Rugby Championship in South Africa.

The squad will play three matches at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha, Port Elizabeth against Australia, Argentina and South Africa at the annual Sanzaar tournament from 28 April to 10 May (NZT).

Current Wellington players, prop Alex Hewitt (Upper Hutt Rams) and  lock Johnny Falloon (Old Boys University) have been selected in the team.

Prop Corban King (Marist St Pat’s) has been named as a non-travelling reserve.

Former St Pat’s Silverstream hooker Jericho Wharehinga (now with Hawke’s Bay) has been selected in this team, whilst his school teammate and former HOBM flanker Drew Berg-McLean (also now Hawke’s Bay) joins King as a non-travelling reserve.

Other current Hurricanes region players include flanker Patrick Mauga (Hawke’s Bay) and Zacherye Taulapapa (non-travelling reserve and also Hawke’s Bay).

The full squad is listed below.

Under 20 TRC 2026 match schedule:

• 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 includes six returning players from the team that narrowly lost to South Africa in last year’s Under 20 Rugby Championship, while five have playing experience in the NPC.

One additional player will be added to the squad before they fly out to South Africa on 20 April, while nine non-traveling reserves will attend a pre departure camp at the New Zealand Campus of Innovation & Sport in Wellington from 12-19 April, which will include a warm-up match against the Hurricanes Hunters development team on Saturday 18 April at 12pm, as a curtain-raiser to round three of the Swindale Shield with the Upper Hutt Rams playing Oriental-Rongotai at nearby Maidstone Park in 2.45pm in a Bob Lendum Cup match and possible Bill Brien Challenge Cup defence.

The 2026 New Zealand U20 squad for The Rugby Championship Under 20 tournament is:

Hookers
Josh Findlay, Crusaders, Canterbury
Luka Patumaka Makata, Blues, Auckland
Jericho Wharehinga, Hurricanes , Hawke’s Bay

Props
Alexander Hewitt, Hurricanes, Wellington
Dane Johnston, Chiefs, Taranaki
Henry Stuart, Highlanders , Otago
Ethan Webber, Highlanders , Otago

Locks
Jake Frost, Crusaders, Canterbury
John Falloon, Hurricanes , Wellington
Max Fale, Crusaders, Canterbury

Loose Forwards
Alex Arnold, Highlanders, Otago
Kobe Brownlee, Crusaders, Tasman
Micah Fale, Chiefs, Waikato
Patrick Mauga, Hurricanes , Hawke’s Bay
Finn McLeod, Crusaders, Canterbury
Logan Platt, Blues, Auckland
Caleb Woodley, Blues, Auckland

Halfbacks
Jackson Hughan, Highlanders , Southland
Boston Krone, Blues, Auckland
Charlie Sinton, Chiefs, Bay of Plenty

First five-eighth’s
Cohen Norrie, Blues, Auckland
Mika Muliaina, Highlanders, Southland

Midfielders
David Lewai, Chiefs, Waikato
Siale Pahulu, Blues, Auckland
Angus Revell, Blues, Auckland
Haki Wiseman, Chiefs, Taranaki

Outside backs
Oliver Guerin, Chiefs, Waikato
Jay Reihana, Highlanders , Southland
JD Van Der Westhuizen, Blues, North Harbour
Logan Williams, Crusaders, Canterbury

The following players have been named as non-traveling reserves and will attend the pre-departure camp at the NZCIS in Wellington 12-19 April:

Hooker
Xavier Leota, Blues, Auckland

Props
Corban King, Hurricanes , Wellington
Charlie Wallis, Blues, Auckland

Lock
Zacherye Taulapapa, Hurricanes , Hawke’s Bay

Loose Forwards
Drew Berg-McLean, Hurricanes, Hawke’s Bay
Bradley Tocker, Chiefs, Taranaki

Halfback
Charlie Sullivan, Crusaders, Canterbury

First five-eighth
Jimmy Taylor, Highlanders , Southland

Outside back
Dallas Rata-Makene, Chiefs, Waikato

The following seven players are on standby for the wider group:
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).