Hautapu Sports Club lock Dylan Eti has been named in the New Zealand U-20 squad to compete in South Africa in May.
The 31-player squad will compete at The Rugby Championship (TRC) U-20 tournament.
Eti has won selection after his performances for the Chiefs U-20 squad at the week-long Super Rugby U-20 tournament in Taupo held in March 2025. He also played for the Chiefs at the 2024 U-20 tournament.
READ MORE: Hautapu players to represent Chiefs, Barbarians at U-20 rugby tournament >>>>
Eti played the 2024 season for Hautapu, and will return for 2025.
He spent his final two years of secondary school at St Peter’s Cambridge, after attending Ōtorohanga College, and became part of the extended senior Chiefs squad last year.
“I’ve loved training with the Chiefs. It was definitely a step up. This time last year, I was with the first XV, so it’s definitely a big change and an eye-opener,” Eti told Cambridge News.
The New Zealand U-20 team’s head coach will be Milton Haig, with assistant coaches Jarrad Hoeata, Craig Dunlea and Alex Robertson.
The squad has a broad regional make up with players spread across New Zealand’s five Super Rugby clubs with the Blues (9), Crusaders (7), Chiefs (6), Hurricanes (5) and Highlanders (4).
“The depth of talent this year was evident at the U-20 tournament in Taupo and although it was difficult team to pick, we believe we have the right group and there is some great leadership including a number of players from last year’s campaign,” Haig said.
The squad will gather for the first time at Upper Hutt’s New Zealand Campus of Innovation in Sport (NZCIS) from April 18-23, 2025.
The squad will be reviewed after the South African tournament before the selection of the New Zealand U-20 squad for the World Rugby U-20 Championship in Italy, from June 29 to July 19, 2025.
New Zealand U-20 squad
Hookers
Shaun Kempton, Highlanders/Southland
Manumaua Letiu, Crusaders/Canterbury
Eli Oudenryn, Crusaders/Tasman
Props
Tamiano Ahloo, Blues/Auckland
Robson Faleafa, Blues/Auckland
Dane Johnston, Chiefs/Taranaki
Riley Tofilau, Blues/North Harbour
Sika Pole, Blues/Auckland
Locks
Dylan Eti, Chiefs/Waikato
Joshua Tengblad, Highlanders/Otago
Randall Baker, Blues/Auckland
Loose forwards
Mosese Bason, Hurricanes/Manawatū
Micah Fale, Chiefs/Waikato
Harry Irving, Hurricanes/Wellington
Aio Keith, Blues/Auckland
Xavier Treacy, Crusaders/Canterbury
Caleb Woodley, Blues/Auckland
Finn McLeod, Crusaders/Canterbury
Halfbacks
Dylan Pledger, Highlanders/Otago
Charlie Sinton, Chiefs/Bay of Plenty
Jai Tamati, Hurricanes/ Manawatū
First five-eighth
Will Cole, Hurricanes/Hawke’s Bay
Rico Simpson, Blues/Auckland
Midfielders
James Cameron, Crusaders/Canterbury
Tayne Harvey, Highlanders/Southland
Cooper Roberts, Crusaders/Tasman
Jack Wiseman, Chiefs/Taranaki
Outside backs
Maloni Kunawave, Crusaders/Tasman
Taniela Maisiri, Chiefs/Bay of Plenty
Harlyn Saunoa, Blues/Auckland
Stanley Solomon, Hurricanes/Wellington
Unavailable due to injury
Logan Wallace, Aisake Vakasiuola, Jayden Sa.
Unavailable due to All Blacks Sevens duties
Oli Mathis, Joey Taumateine, Xavier Tito-Harris, Frank Vaenuku.
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