NZ U20s 2026
-
A great in-depth analysis as always @Mauss.
I was critical of the selection of the NZ U20 props this year, and that proved to be correct. Craig Dunlea has been the scrum coach in recent years, but he has departed for the Force. So we'll get a complete change of the coaching group. Hopefully they choose the right people.
Dane Johnston's selection came out of nowhere as he was only a reserve for the Chiefs U20s until injury, and he was in his first year out of school. Faauma Kupita was the starting TH until he got injured. I would have selected him for the NZ U20s if he was fit by then. Now that Johnston has a NDC I would hope to see a big improvement in his development. Riley Tofilau should also have been chosen to improve the scrum.
I am puzzled why the NZS or NZ U20 coaches want to make some props play in an unfamiliar position in a black jersey. Henry Hunter was another who was played at TH for NZS in the 2nd test.
I'm not sure if the new selection pathway will identify the best props as there looks to be less opportunity to see these players on the field before they play in those wider squad games. Who do you think the LH props could be? James Moore and Charlie Wallis were the 2024 NZS LH props.
-
@Bovidae said in NZ U20s 2026:
Dane Johnston's selection came out of nowhere as he was only a reserve for the Chiefs U20s until injury, and he was in his first year out of school. Faauma Kupita was the starting TH until he got injured. I would have selected him for the NZ U20s if he was fit by then. Now that Johnston has a NDC I would hope to see a big improvement in his development. Riley Tofilau should also have been chosen to improve the scrum.
I am puzzled why the NZS or NZ U20 coaches want to make some props play in an unfamiliar position in a black jersey. Henry Hunter was another who was played at TH for NZS in the 2nd test.
I'm not sure if the new selection pathway will identify the best props as there looks to be less opportunity to see these players on the field before they play in those wider squad games. Who do you think the LH props could be? James Moore and Charlie Wallis were the 2024 NZS LH props.
Speaking of Faauma Kupita, do you happen to know if he's still eligible for next year's U20s? He still played in the U19 competition for Bay of Plenty this year but he wasn't selected for any of the 2024 Chiefs U18 camps so I kinda figured he's a late '05 birth.
Dane Johnston is an interesting one. He seems to be really highly rated by some, while being much less so by others. He had the Taranaki-connection with Hoeata as well, so with both him and Dunlea out of the picture, it might be a different story for him this year. I think he’s a solid player around the park but I wouldn’t pick him as long as he can’t considerably improve his scrum performances.
In terms of the looseheads, I thought Palmer, Wallis and Qaranivalu stood out most positively. Palmer can take a while to get into the game, scrummaging wise, but once he’s firing he’s a difficult player to stop. Wallis can be a bit of a lottery at scrumtime but I like his aggression, both in the scrum and around the field.
Qaranivalu isn’t a very aggressive scrummager (only 6% dominance) but I was impressed by how he was able to deal with different types of tightheads. Seems to be a technically astute scrummager, who can avoid being penalized even when coming under pressure. He wasn’t penalized once in the 51 scrums I’ve seen him engage him, and he came up against some solid tightheads.
I can’t say I was all that convinced by James Moore, either for CBHS, NZ Schools or Canterbury U19s. His strengths probably lie more outside of the set piece.
As far as selection is concerned, I’d probably pick two units based on height: a short one to really attack the opposition scrum (Palmer/Leota/Tulimanu) and a taller, more all-round one (Qaranivalu or Wallis/Wharehinga/Ahloo). A tighthead-axis of Tulimanu and Frazer Brown behind him would have both a lot weight and pack a good punch.
-
I've no idea on the DOB of these players. Do you think that Raharuhi Palmer is still eligible in 2026? If so, he would be like Micah Fale and a young Y13 when he finished school.
If the PUs or SR clubs released a list of their players who are part of the U20 testing group, we'd know who they are looking at.
-
@Bovidae said in NZ U20s 2026:
I've no idea on the DOB of these players. Do you think that Raharuhi Palmer is still eligible in 2026? If so, he would be like Micah Fale and a young Y13 when he finished school.
If the PUs or SR clubs released a list of their players who are part of the U20 testing group, we'd know who they are looking at.
Yeah, I’m nearly certain that Palmer is still eligible. He played for both the NZ Barbarians and Māori U18 in 2024, and all of those players are born in ’06 or later.
As a general rule of thumb, I tend to look at the SR U18 development camp lists from two years earlier (so, in the case of the 2026 U20 season, the 2024 camps). All of those players are U20 eligible in 2026. The issue is when certain players miss out due to not being on the radar or being injured. Then the puzzle work begins.
But you’re right, it’d be a lot easier if teams would just release their U20 groups. I’m not holding my breath, though.
-
The dates and pools for the U20 WC have been confirmed.
- Tournament expands to 16 teams and debuts under its new name: the World Rugby Junior World Championship
- Match schedule unveiled with new format featuring four pools of four
- Tbilisi and Kutaisi set to host thrilling action across five weekends from 27 June to 18 July
- First international competition to feature the new trial lowering the tackle height
NZ is in Pool B with Italy, Scotland and Japan.
