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All Blacks Sevens star Oli Mathis headlines New Zealand U20 squad

New Zealand's Olis Mathis is marked by Fiji's Terio Veilawa during the the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series men's rugby match between Fiji and New Zealand at the Sevens Stadium in Dubai on November 30, 2024. (Photo by FADEL SENNA / AFP) (Photo by FADEL SENNA/AFP via Getty Images)

The New Zealand squad has been named for the World Rugby U20 Championship and is headlined by a pair of All Blacks Sevens players.

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After turning heads in his recent NPC season for playing both openside flanker and wing, Oli Mathis is returning to the XV game for the tournament and is named in the loose forwards.

Frank Vaenuku will also transition back from the All Blacks Sevens, making for another tough selection call as David Lewai misses the cut after starring in South Africa.

Having secured back-to-back Rugby Championship U20 titles in May, the team will be looking to better the third-place finish they achieved in the world championship tournament a year ago.

The 30-man squad will travel to Italy for the competition, set to be held from 29 June to 19 July.

New Zealand U20 squad

Hookers

Shaun Kempton, Highlanders/Southland

Manumaua Letiu, Crusaders/Canterbury

Eli Oudenryn, Crusaders/Tasman

Props

Tamiano Ahloo, Blues/Auckland

Robson Faleafa, Blues/Auckland

Dane Johnston, Chiefs/Taranaki

Sika Pole, Blues/Auckland

Logan Wallace, Hurricanes/Manawatu

Locks

Jayden Sa, Chiefs/Taranaki

Josh Tengblad, Highlanders/Otago

Aisake Vakasiuola, Chiefs/Bay of Plenty

Loose Forwards

Mosese Bason, Hurricanes/Manawat?

Micah Fale, Chiefs/Waikato

Oli Mathis, Chiefs/Waikato

Xavier Treacy, Crusaders/Canterbury

Caleb Woodley, Blues/Auckland

Finn McLeod, Crusaders/Canterbury

Halfbacks

Dylan Pledger, Highlanders/Otago

Charlie Sinton, Chiefs/Bay of Plenty

Jai Tamati, Hurricanes/Manawat?

First five-eighth

Will Cole, Hurricanes/Hawke’s Bay

Rico Simpson, Blues/Auckland

 Midfield 

James Cameron, Crusaders/Canterbury

Tayne Harvey, Highlanders/Southland

Cooper Roberts, Crusaders/Tasman

Jack Wiseman, Chiefs/Taranaki

 Outside Backs

Maloni Kunawave, Crusaders/Tasman

Harlyn Saunoa, Blues/Auckland

Stanley Solomon, Hurricanes/Wellington

Frank Vaenuku, Chiefs/Bay of Plenty

Non-travelling reserves

Dylan Eti, Harry Irving, Raharuhi Palmer, Aio Keith, Mika Muliaina, Taniela Maisiri, Riley Tofilau, Ollie Burra, David Lewai, Randall Baker, Israel Time

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Comments

2 Comments
G
GP 53 days ago

Great to see Alex Wyllie’s Grandson Finn Macleod make the side. “Grizz” would have been proud.Also Canterbury hooker Manamaua Letiu get in. He looks the good. Played off the bench for the Crusaders early on. Xavier Treacy I have heard is a very good player. James Cameron is a talented midfielder. Hope they get the job done.

U
Utiku Old Boy 53 days ago

Ollie Mathis is a star in the making. Unlike Pollard in the UK, he is developing his game in his peer group without too much hype and will achieve his true potential without ego or the pressure of unrealistic expectations. Pollard may yet have longevity but the odds are now stacked against him. Mathis could have likewise been promoted earlier but I like his current development trajectory. Let’s see what he can achieve.

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