Highlanders name John Jones Steel U20's Team for Taupō

The Highlanders have officially unveiled their 27-man John Jones Steel Under 20’s team set to compete in the annual Super Rugby U20s tournament in Taupō.

Chosen from a talent pool of 37 players, the travelling squad underwent a rigorous four-week assembly period, featuring a weekend camp and overnight stay at Ariateuru Marae. This preparatory phase not only honed the players' skills but also provided them with valuable insights into the demands of professional rugby, a journey often marked by the balancing act of studies and employment while pursuing higher honours.

During this period, the squad engaged in two trial matches against a Southland Invitational XV and the Crusaders U20s squad, enabling Head Coach Will Henry (ORFU – Regional Development Coach) and his coaching staff to assess player performance and team dynamics.

Henry expressed satisfaction with the squad's composition and remarked, " We have a committed group of young men who have spent the last three weeks learning about the club and the Highlanders style of rugby to grow their own game. The group has been working extremely hard during this period and as a result have created some great discussions within our coaching group before we were able to land on the 27-man traveling squad to Taupō. There is an exciting mix of skillsets and personalities throughout the group, and they are ready to meet the challenge ahead of them this Saturday.”

Leading the team onto the field is midfielder Josh Whaanga, appointed as Captain. Despite his youth, Whaanga brings experience, having earned his stripes through his inclusion in the Otago NPC team last September. HHHe started and played in 10 games during the 2023 NPC Season. Whaanga attributes his preparedness to his tenure with the Highlanders under-20s team and participation in the Highlanders' pre-season training in 2023, experiences that have primed him for advancing his rugby career.

Having completed his second pre-season with the Highlanders under the John Jones Steel High Performance Programme, Whaanga, had the opportunity to play against Moana Pasifika in the Highlanders first pre season game of 2024, alongside his elder brother Matt Whaanga.

Anticipating the challenge in Taupō, Whaanga expressed his enthusiasm for guiding his fellow teammates, stating, "This is my second year in the team, so I know how challenging it is physically and mentally to play three games in eight days. The Management team has provided us a great foundation to grow our professional habits and game understanding.

"Being born and bred from within the Highlanders Region, it is a massive honour to represent the Club I have always looked up to and as the captain it has been awesome to see all of the players utilise the resources provided and live the club values."

The team comprises a record 19 players hailing from the Highlanders region, a testament to the efficacy of provincial and school-level development programs within the region.

Highlanders John Jones Steel Under 20’s Team:

 MANAGEMENT TEAM 

FIXTURES

MATCH DAY 1: SATURDAY 16^th MARCH

MATCH DAY 2: TUESDAY 19^th MARCH

MATCH DAY 3: SATURDAY 23rd MARCH

All games live on Sky.

END