All Blacks Sevens stars headline New Zealand U20 Junior World Championship squad

New Zealand Rugby’s National Pathways and U20s Head Coach Kane Jury has named his 30-man squad for the World Rugby Junior Championship in Georgia.

The squad features eight changes from the Rugby Championship U20 tournament, including two All Blacks Sevens players, World Rugby Men’s SVNS Rookie of the Year Kele Lasaqa, and Taranaki loose-forward Bradley Tocker.

Jury credited the Sevens programme and how the transition to other pathways offered the opportunity for both Lasaqa and Tocker to be available for the 2026 tournament.

“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.”

Manawatu hooker Alani Fakava, Blues hooker Xavier Leota and loose forward Jake Hutchings also join the travelling squad.

Junior Crusaders prop James Moore, Hawke’s Bay midfielder Triumph Voice and Canterbury-born Lautasi Etuale also make their way into the squad, after injuries kept them out of the Rugby Championship U20 tournament.

Jury and the U20s will be without one key piece, with barnstorming loose-forward Finn McLeod missing the Junior World Championship through injury.

The former Highlanders assistant said the changes indicate how tough some of the decisions were, since getting players together in November.

“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.”

Jury touched on the experience of All Blacks assistant coach Jason Ryan, who spent time with 20 tight-five forwards in a recent development camp.

“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 2026 New Zealand U20 squad for the World Rugby Junior World Championship is: