WR U20 Championship 2026

@Mamuka said in WR U20 Championship 2026:

NZ can't seem to produce quality players anymore.

I’d strongly disagree with this take. New Zealand still has one of the best production rates, in my view, of great rugby athletes with quality skillsets. The current list of players leaving SR (Flanders, Sotutu, ENS, Papali’i, Fineanganofo, Lam, to name just a few) provides more than ample evidence of the quality of player produced and only Papali’i ever won any silverware at U20 level.

The current biggest hurdle for NZ U20 success, I’d argue, isn’t rugby league scouting or a lack of quality cattle but the shape of the development curve within the NZ rugby pyramid. Taking the players above as an example, most Kiwi rugby players only tend to establish themselves as starters at the highest professional level between the ages of 22 and 24, with some even pushing 26 to truly settle into a position.

SR starts for some of the current leavers: slow and steady does not win the U20 race

Papali’i (’97) only became an established starter for the Blues at 7 in 2021, Sotutu (’98) was the first-choice No. 8 from 2020 onwards, Lam (’98) jumped from an average of 5 starts across his first 3 seasons to 13 starts in 2024, Nanai-Seturo (’99) became a critical part of the Chiefs’ back 3 during the 2023 and ’24 seasons, Flanders (’99) had his most starts in a single jersey ever at age 26 this year, while Fineanganofo (’02) went from 7 starts last season to 14 this year.

Meanwhile, the trend in professional rugby is to enter players into the highest levels at a younger and younger age. Taking the French U20 wider training group as an example, 17 of the 26 forwards have already played minutes for their senior Top 14 of Pro D2 club. Of the NZ U20s, just two have sniffed the NPC: Johnny Falloon (Wellington, 91 min) and Caleb Woodley (Auckland, 8 min). Just yesterday, Rassie picked two U20 players (Riley Norton and Vusi Moyo) in his Springbok squad. It’s hard to imagine a player of the NZ U20s cracking the ABs.

Again, this is not an indictment on NZR player development. I think players are coming through in New Zealand Rugby. But their development is coming along too slowly in order for the NZ U20s to be consistently competitive at international U20 level. Their opponents are simply more advanced in their development curve, having more senior playing minutes under their belt.

As far as I see it, NZ Rugby really has two options, if it wants to win this tournament again: (1) speed up player development by giving U20 players minutes at the highest level, or (2) maximize the efforts at centralizing player development. Australia is currently moving along the second pathway, having players play together from U16 level onwards. There really is no reason NZ Rugby can’t do something similar, having a core group of around 50-75 players and giving them competitive match opportunities as they advance through the grades. It would at least give them the advantage of cohesion.

It is simply a matter of investment.

Having a full U20 SR competition would also help. This year's new development model meant that the players only played twice in Taupō, compared to three times with the old SR U20 tournament. Most of the NDC players were involved with their Dev teams but that's only a small group amongst the wider pool of players.

@Mauss said in WR U20 Championship 2026:

@Mamuka said in WR U20 Championship 2026:

NZ can't seem to produce quality players anymore.

As far as I see it, NZ Rugby really has two options, if it wants to win this tournament again: (1) speed up player development by giving U20 players minutes at the highest level, or (2) maximize the efforts at centralizing player development. Australia is currently moving along the second pathway, having players play together from U16 level onwards. There really is no reason NZ Rugby can’t do something similar, having a core group of around 50-75 players and giving them competitive match opportunities as they advance through the grades. It would at least give them the advantage of cohesion.

It is simply a matter of investment.

Out of interest, would you be in favour of those ideas mate?
I always have a bit of a worry that centralising and 'youthanising' the development pathways means you are excluding guys who might turn out better, and they might be lost to the game.

@reprobate said in WR U20 Championship 2026:

I always have a bit of a worry that centralising and 'youthanising' the development pathways means you are excluding guys who might turn out better, and they might be lost to the game.

I'll answer this part first: I don't think creating a national rep group means dismantling the entire development pathway. There would still be provincial academies, First XV rugby, SR development camps. If anything, I think a national U16 group would be a good tool for convincing some players that they are in the frame, especially those who might opt for league.

Would a late bloomer like Callum Harkin disappear with a centralized development pathway? I highly doubt it. As far as I can tell, he never made a single national age grade rep team and he's still stuck around. That said, talent identification can still be a whole lot better, but that's a different discussion.

Out of interest, would you be in favour of those ideas mate?

Well, that largely depends on the perspective. From an institutional perspective, professional sports is a performance machine where the wheels only spin faster and faster as time goes on. The idea of choice is largely illusory here: either you get on board or you get left behind. And I would find it strange if NZR is fine with not winning the tournament anymore, so I'd hope they, at least, take some kind of action.

Still, the two options above are largely a false dilemma, as I don't think NZR has the finances nor the desire for the first option. Because that would require either more SR teams or more SR games, and neither look particularly likely.

The second would be pretty achievable, though. And it would help with the kind of attacking rugby NZ Rugby wants to achieve, as that requires connection and understanding between the players. And there seems to be very little of that with the current crop.

Not considered due to injury: Patrick Mauga (Hurricanes/Hawke’s Bay)

Rambo to lead Bokkies
Saturday’s match will kick off at 6:30pm (SA time).

JUNIOR SPRINGBOKS – 15 Luan Giliomee, 14 Khuthadzo Rasivhaga, 13 Markus Muller, 12 Ethan Adams, 11 Jordan Steenkamp, 10 Alzeadon Felix, 9 Hendré Schoeman, 8 Vuyo Gwiji, 7 Gert Kemp, 6 Risima Khosa, 5 JD Hattingh, 4 Jaythen Orange, 3 Luan van der Berg, 2 Liam van Wyk, 1 Rambo Kubheka (c).
Bench: 16 Siphosetho Mnebelele, 17 Jordan Jooste, 18 Danie Kruger, 19 Thomas Beling, 20 Wasi Vyambwera, 21 Jayden Brits, 22 Akahluwa Boqwana, 23 Cheswill Jooste.

Should be captain on name alone!

Ahmed will only played from the 3rd match. He has been awesome this season. Unlucky to get red against the Zimbos This season CC should set him up for URC with the Stormers.

Argentina destroying rugby in the USA. Absolute belting.

NZ v Japan 21 - 7 in the 30h minute. Game being played in the rain.

@antipodean said in WR U20 Championship 2026:

NZ v Japan 21 - 7 in the 30h minute. Game being played in the rain.

I turned it on after seeing your post only to see a Japanese infant score a try.

Must be about four years in a row now this tournament has been played in shit weather.

Jesus, what is with New Zealand players incapable of keeping a kick off in play ffs?

And Japan destroys New Zealand's scrum on halfway.

This NZ team is pants

Is this the same Japan U20 that got pumped by the NZ University side?

I switched channels at one stage to see the score and the broadcast was interrupted. I will watch the 1st half replay, but what did Muliaina do to get his YC?

@Bovidae said in WR U20 Championship 2026:

I switched channels at one stage to see the score and the broadcast was interrupted. I will watch the 1st half replay, but what did Muliaina do to get his YC?

Accumulation of team warnings, was off side.

We have a contest here, aided by New Zealand's shocking discipline.

This might be the dumbest NZ 20s side ive ever seen

Just moronic decision after moronic decision

@KiwiMurph bi product of the NZ pathway system?

@Steven-Harris said in WR U20 Championship 2026:

@KiwiMurph bi product of the NZ pathway system?

Was interesting to hear a comment recently that the 20s program will be changing now that Don Tricker is back

If they put as much practice into basic skills and rugby know how as they do for haka practice they might actually be able to compete with the big boys…

@Stag said in WR U20 Championship 2026:

If they put as much practice into basic skills and rugby know how as they do for haka practice they might actually be able to compete with the big boys…

They spend all of thirty minutes learning the haka, but sure that's the problem.

@KiwiMurph said in WR U20 Championship 2026:

Was interesting to hear a comment recently that the 20s program will be changing now that Don Tricker is back

In what way? Is Kane Jury's role changing?

@Daffy-Jaffy said in WR U20 Championship 2026:

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So did the result stand?

@Nepia said in WR U20 Championship 2026:

@Daffy-Jaffy said in WR U20 Championship 2026:

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So did the result stand?

It did.

I watched the 1st half of the NZ-Japan match and noticed a few times that the Scottish commentators were talking up the influence of Brock James for the Japanese attack. The only problem is that he is a NZ assistant coach.

Staggering from one of the Blues HP lads i wont name him just in case there’s repercussions from NZ Rugby
This particular HP manager informed me if the Blues and Chiefs Under 20s try to run an unsanctioned game again in the near future it will be blocked by NZ Rugby.
It beggars belief that pathways are being pulled at all levels and you wonder why we are getting the quality dished in its poorest form at World U20 level
Is there any other sport thats administering its own death sentence atm ?
Patients running the asylum at NZ Rugby

So that would be Matt Sexton's directive. Muppets.

A couple of injured players are back. And a 6:2 bench.

Max Fale is listed as 2.03m and 122kg as a 19 year old. Good to see some younger units coming through.

Frost looks even bigger.

@cgrant said in WR U20 Championship 2026:

Frost looks even bigger.

Bit of a difference
Frost 1.98m 116 kg
Fale 2.03m. 122 kg

I am surprised Frost isn't the heavier of the two. He definitely looks shorter but more muscular.

So I just looked up Max Fale and was expecting to see an Islander but instead he's a ginga white dude.

@Nepia said in WR U20 Championship 2026:

So I just looked up Max Fale and was expecting to see an Islander but instead he's a ginga white dude.

Thought the same when I first saw him listed in the U20 squad, particularly with Micah Fale in the team.

At halftime the score is 17 to NZ U20s, 7 to Scotland U20s. Positives: the additions of Tocker and Lasaqa to the squad, the attacking maul, the defensive lineout, all-round defensive work rate.

The negatives: the offensive lineout, the defensive maul, the complete lack of any sort of backline cohesion, generally losing the collision contest.

The too-negative-to-put-into-words: the scrum. I find this to be unbelievably frustrating, mostly because I’ve also spent an ungodly amount of time watching eligible props, and this was always going to happen with the props they’ve selected. If some schmuck like me can tell what’s going to happen before a ball was kicked this U20 season, what is the high-performance unit at NZR actually doing?

The NZ U20s could easily lose this game because they don’t have any way of fixing either their scrum or their maul defence inside the 22. Good stuff.