NZ U20s: Two Southlanders selected, one on standby
“Tayne and Shaun decided to throw their lot in with us and for them to make the New Zealand group from there, hopefully, shows other guys there is an opportunity if you put in the work."
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Two Southland players have been named in the New Zealand U20s rugby squad, and another has been placed on standby in a piece of encouraging news for Southland’s pathways programme.
Hooker Shaun Kempton and midfielder Tayne Harvey have been named in the New Zealand squad which will attend the U20s Rugby Championship tournament in South Africa.
Meanwhile, 18-year-old first five-eighth Mika Muliaina has been placed on standby and will join the squad in camp before they head to South Africa.
The squad leaves on April 18 and will return on May 14.
Kempton completed his schooling in Christchurch in 2023, while Harvey finished that year at Palmerston North Boys’ High School.
Both decided to link with Rugby Southland’s academy system in 2024.
Muliaina is in his first year out of Southland Boys’ High School and is now knocking on the door of New Zealand U20 selection despite still having two more years in that age-group.
Following the Rugby Championship in South Africa a new New Zealand squad will be named for the U20 World Championship, to be held in Italy in June and July.
It could mean a massive 2025 workload for the youngsters, with Harvey, Kempton, and Muliaina also in line for a wee bit of game time for the Stags come the 2025 NPC season.
Harvey and Kempton’s selection, along with Muliaina being placed on standby, is a plus for Southland rugby given the province didn’t have any representation in the 2024 New Zealand U20s setup.
“It’s exciting for them,” Rugby Southland pathways manager Scott Eade said of the selections.
“Tayne and Shaun decided to throw their lot in with us [in Southland] and for them to make the New Zealand group from there, hopefully, shows other guys there is an opportunity if you put in the work, have a great attitude, and front up week on week, you can make it.”
For Muliaina to be well and truly on the radar was also a good result, Eade said.
“It’s awesome for him considering he is under 18, he’s stoked. For Mika to be invited to the camp and go up to Wellington before they leave for South Africa is great.”
Southland’s last NZU20s representation came in 2023 when hooker Jack Taylor was named in the original squad and prop Hunter Fahey was called in as injury cover to head to the World Championship in South Africa.
The New Zealand U20s team is coached by former Southland halfback Milton Haig.
The 2025 New Zealand U20 squad is:
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.