Young Highlanders Named in u20s Team

Seven players from the John Jones Steel Highlander’s U20 team that performed well at the

recent Super Rugby Under 20 tournaments in Taūpo have been rewarded with selection in

the NZ U20 squad that will play in an Oceania Rugby U20 Championship tournament on the

Sunshine Coast in Australia.

Forwards Fabian Holland, Hayden Michaels and Oliver Haig will join backs Noah Hotham,

Cameron Millar, Jake Te Hiwi and Finn Hurley in a warm-up game against Argentina followed

by tournament matches against Fiji, Argentina, and Australia.

Holland has already tasted Super Rugby with the Highlanders and provincial rugby with Otago

and was in the NZ U20s team last year. His locking partner, Oliver Haig, has earned selection

after some robust performances in club rugby and for the Highlanders U20s over the last two

years at both lock and blindside flanker. Southland openside Hayden Michaels is a tackling

machine and played for the Stags last year, a player with an exceptional work rate and a big

future in the game.

Highlanders U20 Captain Noah Hotham will partner Otago super boot first-five Cameron

Millar, both are accomplished players who played Bunnings NPC rugby in 2021 for Tasman

and Otago respectively. Hard running midfielder, Jake Te Hiwi, is another who is enjoying a

strong club season and was one of the form midfielders at the national tournament. Finn

Hurley plays fullback and first-five and while small in stature possesses blistering pace and is

a courageous defender in the mould of Damian McKenzie.

Highlanders Talent Development Manager Kane Jury was delighted with the representation.

“To get seven players into the squad is fantastic, both for the players themselves and the

Highlanders. We have been working hard as a club to provide our young men with a pathway

to a professional rugby career that combines education with rugby. These guys are all

currently students and while not professionals yet - selection into the NZ U20s is an important

step.”

The team will be coached by current Otago coach and ex-Highlander Tom Donnelly and

assisted by Cory Jane and Scott Hansen. They will assemble on 17th June in Wellington leading

into a warmup game against a Hawkes Bay XV on June 22.

The New Zealand Under 20 squad is;

Forwards

Josh Bartlett (Chiefs/Bay of Plenty)

Josh Beehre (Blues/Auckland)

George Bell (Crusaders/Canterbury)

Joe Brial (Crusaders/Canterbury)

Tahlor Cahill (Crusaders/Canterbury)

Seb Calder (Crusaders/Canterbury)

Oliver Haig (Highlanders/Otago)

Jamie Hannah (Crusaders/Canterbury)

Fabian Holland (Highlanders/Otago)

Peter Lakai (Hurricanes/Wellington)

Siale Lauaki (Hurricanes/Wellington)

Hayden Michaels (Highlanders/Southland)

Lavengamonu (Monu) Moli (Crusaders/Tasman)

Viliami Napa'a (Crusaders/Tasman)

Wallace Sititi (Blues/Auckland)

Mason Tupaea (Chiefs/Waikato)

Raymond Tuputupu (Hurricanes/Manawatu)

Backs

Lucas Cashmore (Chiefs/Bay of Plenty)

Harry Godfrey (Hurricanes/Hawke’s Bay)

Riley Higgins (Hurricanes/Wellington)

Noah Hotham (Highlanders/Tasman)

Finn Hurley (Highlanders/Otago)

Joel Lam (Crusaders/Canterbury)

Adam Lennox (Chiefs/Taranaki)

Cameron Millar (Highlanders/Otago)

Jone Rova (Crusaders/Canterbury)

Mackay (Macca) Springer (Crusaders/Tasman)

Jake Te Hiwi (Highlanders/Otago)

Essendon Tuitupou (Blues/Auckland)

Nik Vikena (Crusaders/Tasman)

2022 Oceania Rugby Under 20 Championship

New Zealand v Fiji

Friday 1 July, kick off 5pm

Sunshine Coast Stadium

New Zealand v Argentina

Tuesday 5 July, kick off 2pm

Sunshine Coast Stadium

New Zealand v Australia

Sunday 10 July, kick off 4pm

Sunshine Coast Stadium

ENDS