All Black great’s nephew named at first five for NZ U20s clash with Australia

New Zealand Men’s Under 20 head coach Kane Jury has named a mix of experience and new talent for their clash against Australia on early Tuesday morning in Gqeberha, Port Elizabeth.

Jury’s side will be looking to defend their Under 20 Rugby Championship title, starting against Australia, before taking on Argentina in round two, and South Africa in round three.

New Zealand will be captained by Chiefs and Taranaki midfielder Haki Wiseman, while returning players Caleb Woodley and Charlie Sinton will start as vice-captains for the first contest on Tuesday.

Up front, Jury has named Henry Stuart, Josh Findlay, and Dane Johnston in the front row, while the second row combination is Crusaders duo Max Fale and Jake Frost.

A dynamic loose-forward trio has been named, led by Woodley, alongside Crusaders No.6 Finn McLeod and Hawke’s Bay’s Patrick Mauga.

Sinton, a promising halfback out of Bay of Plenty and the Chiefs, will start alongside Mils Muliaina’s nephew, Mika, in the all-important No.9 and No.10 positions.

Wiseman will partner Chiefs teammate David Lewai in the midfield, forming a familiar combination in an important position.

The back three for Jury’s side are all from the North Island, with Auckland NPC fullback Cohen Norrie getting the nod at the back, while Siale Pahulu and Oliver Guerin will take their spot on the wings.

Chiefs loose-forward Micah Fale returns for his third U20 campaign, in the No.20 jersey for the first game in 2026.

Earlier this year, Jury was named New Zealand Rugby’s National Pathways Head Coach, helping bridge the gap between the men’s teams wearing black.

Back on April 1, Jury said the players had worked hard to earn their places through their efforts during the recent Under 20 Development Programme in Taupo.

“The week was a standout success, both on and off the field. One hundred of our most promising players arrived eager to learn, compete, and showcase their talent – and they delivered in spades.”

“As we head into The Rugby Championship, there’s genuine excitement about this group around who they are, who they can become, and how we can contribute to the legacy of this team.”

“I am truly grateful for the many opportunities and learnings I’ve been given at the Highlanders,” Jury said in an NZR release back in February.

“This experience has provided me with the platform to step into this newly created role with New Zealand Rugby, focused on strengthening and aligning the pathway between our national age-grade programmes and our national teams.”

SA Rugby CEO Rian Oberholzer explained that it’s an ideal outcome for SA Rugby and the Eastern Cape to host the third edition of this tournament for a second time running.

“Last year’s event was a massive success, and we are thrilled that this tournament will be returning to Gqeberha,” said Oberholzer.

“The Eastern Cape has a rich rugby culture and a passionate fan base, and like last year we expect good crowds to come to the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium to see the four teams in action across three double-header match days.

“The combination of top-notch facilities at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium and superb accommodation and training options, coupled with the enthusiastic support of the people of the Eastern Cape will make this another memorable experience for everyone involved.”

New Zealand Under 20 team v Australia Under 20:

New Zealand v Australia
Monday 27 April, 2pm (SAST) / Tuesday 28 April, 12am (NZST)

Live on Sky Sport NZ  

1. Henry Stuart (Highlanders, Otago)
2. Josh Findlay (Crusaders, Canterbury)
3. Dane Johnston (Chiefs, Taranaki)
4. Max Fale (Crusaders, Canterbury)
5. Jake Frost (Crusaders, Canterbury)
6. Finn McLeod (Crusaders, Canterbury)
7. Caleb Woodley (Blues, Auckland)
8. Patrick Mauga (Hurricanes, Hawke’s Bay)
9. Charlie Sinton (Chiefs, Bay of Plenty)
10. Mika Muliaina (Highlanders, Southland)
11. Siale Pahulu (Blues, Auckland)
12. Haki Wiseman (Chiefs, Taranaki)
13. David Lewai (Chiefs, Waikato)
14. Oliver Guerin (Chiefs, Waikato)
15. Cohen Norrie (Blues, Auckland)

Impact: 

16. Luka Patumaka Makata (Blues, Auckland), 17. Ethan Webber (Highlanders, Otago), 18. Alexander Hewitt (Hurricanes, Wellington), 19. John Falloon (Hurricanes, Wellington), 20. Micah Fale (Chiefs, Waikato), 21. Jackson Hughan (Highlanders, Southland), 22. Jay Reihana (Highlanders, Southland), 23. Logan Williams (Crusaders, Canterbury)