John Jones Steel Highlanders U20 Squad for Taupō tournament

The John Jones Steel Highlanders U20 team is set to take on the country’s best young players at a week-long tournament in Taupō. The team will play three games beginning with the Blues on Saturday at 5.05pm at Owen Delany Park.

The team features a number of players going to their second tournament and Head Coach, Scott Eade, will be looking for good performances from Captain and Vice-Captain Dylan Pledger and Josh Tengblad.

Pledger a halfback in the mould of Aaron Smith made the New Zealand Under 20 team in 2024 and had a stand out World Cup series. Tengblad played for the Highlanders in their two warm up games at the start of the year. Tall and robust around the field he will lead a forward pack featuring Southland hooker Shaun Kempton and a familiar Southland name in fullback, Mika Muliaina, who will steer the team from first-five. Out wide, Kyan Rangitutia, has already played a number of games for the Otago NPC team while midfielder Tayne Harvey and Josh Augustine have both donned the Southland jersey.

The games can be watched on Sky on the following channels:

• Saturday 15th March (Day 1) will be on Sky Sport 5
• Tuesday 18^th March (Day 2) will be on Sky Sport 1
• Saturday 22^nd March (Day 3) will be on Sky Sport Select

John Jones Steel Highlanders U20 Squad

Props: Jayton Fisher, Thomas Jennings, Tasman Soanai-Oeti, Couper Killick, Ethan Webber

Hookers: Shaun Kempton, Tom Martin

Locks: Josh Tengblad (vc) , Christian MacEwan, Lachlan Stevens, Finlay Mather

Loosies: Tom Devery, Gregor Rutledge, Matt Brock, Justin Shaw,  Louis Lepionka

Halfbacks: Dylan Pledger ©, Oliver Thode

First-Fives : Mika Muliaina, Wyndham Patuawa

Midfield: Tayne Harvey, Riley Lucas, Sam Mustchin

Outsides: Kyan Rangitutia, Josh Augustine, Liam Barron, Wiremu Brailey

ENDS