New Zealand Rugby announces squads for National Under 18 Pathway Programme
8 September 2025New Zealand Rugby (NZR) has announced the New Zealand Schools, New Zealand Barbarian Under 18 and New Zealand Māori Under 18 Ngā Whatukura Boys teams to take part in the 2025 National U18 Pathway Programme in Hamilton.
The selected players will assemble at St Paul’s Collegiate School in Hamilton from 16-25th September, culminating in three matches, one involving a Chiefs selection.
Following the conclusion of the National U18 Pathway Programme a New Zealand Schools team will play two international fixtures against Australia U18 in Canberra.
U18 High Performance Camp match schedule
Saturday 20 September:
-
New Zealand Māori U18 v Chiefs Selection, kick off 12.00pm.
-
New Zealand Schools v New Zealand Barbarian U18, kick off 2.00pm.
Thursday 25 September
-
New Zealand Barbarian U18 v New Zealand Māori U18, kick off 12.30pm.
All camp matches will be live on the All Blacks YouTube channel.
NZ Schools v Australia U18 match schedule
Monday 29 September:
-
Australia U18 v New Zealand Schools, Viking Rugby Club, Canberra, kick-off 4.05pm NZT.
Saturday 4 October:
-
Australia U18 v New Zealand Schools, Viking Rugby Club, Canberra, kick-off 4.05pm NZT.
The three squads selected for the U18 High Performance Pathway Programme are:
New Zealand Schools
Alani Fakava, Feilding High School
Christiaan Botha, Nelson College
Cody Renata, Rotorua Boys' High School
Daniel Lawrence, Liston College
Henry Hunter, King's High School
Hunter Weaver, Rotorua Boys' High School
Isireli Qaranivalu, Hastings Boys ' High School
Jacob Carter, King's College
Jake Hutchings, Rotorua Boys' High School
Jamie Viljoen, Palmerston North Boys' High School
Jimmy Taylor, Southland Boys' High School
Lautasi Etuale, St Thomas of Canterbury College
Liston Vaka’uta, Sacred Heart College, Auckland
Logan Platt, Auckland Grammar School
Luka Patumaka Makata, Saint Kentigern
Marco Miln, King's College
Nehemiah Su'a, Palmerston North Boys' High School
Nico Stanley, Auckland Grammar School
Noah Rogers, Lindisfarne College
Ollie Guerin, Hamilton Boys' High School
Riley Grant-Faiva, Saint Kentigern
Rupeni Raviyawa, Feilding High School
Siale Pahulu, Saint Kentigern
Sione Katoa, Liston College
Tom Perkins, Nelson College
Triumph Voice, Hastings Boys ' High School
New Zealand Barbarian Under 18
Alapati Tusa Soagia, St Peter's Cambridge
Alex Palazzo, Palmerston North Boys High School'
Boston Krone, Pakuranga RFC
Drew Berg -McLean, Napier Pirates Rugby & Sports Club
Brayden Neilson, New Plymouth Old Boys' Rugby Club
Charlie Sullivan, Sydenham Rugby Club
Corban King, Marist St Pats RFC
Elijah Solomona, St Patrick's Silverstream
Flynn Morey, St Peter's Cambridge
Harry Cornelius, Westlake Boys High School
Hunter Kennedy, Palmerston North Boys' High School
Jack Potter, Nelson College
James Tuituba, Fielding High School
Jake Hill, King's High School
Johan Schaumkell, King's College
Josh Findlay, High School Old Boys' Rugby Club, Christchurch
Junior Aukuso-Slade, Saint Kentigern
Kaiva Tulimanu, Westlake Boys’ High School
Louie Treacy, Lincoln University RFC
Mason Coulthard, Southland Boys' High School
Nathan Stephens, Hamilton Boys' High School
Nehemiah Lauvao, Hastings Boys ' High School
Peni Havea, Feilding High School
PJ Palamo, Linwood Rugby Club
Tawhiao Whitam-Tekotua, Nelson College
Not considered due to NPC commitments: Mika Muliana, University RFC
New Zealand Māori Under 18 Ngā Whatukura Boys
Alex Arnold, Hamilton Boys' High School (Te Āti Awa)
Ashton Savage, Northcote Rugby Football Club (Ngāti Maru - Hauraki)
Brad Meek, St Peter's Cambridge (Ngāti Porou)
Bronson van der Heyden, Rotorua Boys' High School (Ngāti Maniapoto)
Dylan Giles, Christchurch Boys' High School (Ngāti Ruanui)
Ethan Webber, Taieri Rugby Football Club (Kāi Tahu / Ngāi Tahu)
Inoke Vaingalo, Northcote Rugby Football Club (Ngāpuhi)
Izaiah Kamana, St Peter's Cambridge (Ngāti Maniapoto, Te Rarawa)
Jay Reihana, Timaru Boys' High School (Kāi Tahu / Ngāi Tahu)
Jeremiah Tuhenga-Vaitupu, King's High School (Waikato-Tainui)
Jericho Wharehinga, Napier Pirates Rugby & Sports Club (Ngāti Porou, Te Arawa)
Jesse West, St Peter's Cambridge (Ngāti Apakura, Ngāti Maniapoto)
Koen Rarere, Southland Boys' High School (Rongomāwāhine, Ngāti Kahungunu ki Te Wairoa)
Lafa Tofiga, King's High School (Ngāti Maniapoto)
Leighton Jones, Hamilton Old Boys' Rugby, Netball & Squash Club (Waikato-Tainui)
Liam Van Der Heyden, Hamilton Boys' High School (Ngāti Raukawa)
Malachi Osman, Tawa College (Ngāti Porou, Ngā Rauru)
Neihana Mata'afa, St Thomas of Canterbury College (Kāi Tahu / Ngāi Tahu)
Ngawai Amoamo, Sacred Heart College, Auckland (Te Whakatōhea, Kāi Tahu / Ngāi Tahu)
Presley McHugh, Southland Boys' High School (Ngāti Kahungunu)
Raef Robinson, Hastings Boys' High School (Ngāti Kahungunu ki Heretaunga)
Riche Stephenson, Aotea Sports Club (Rangitāne, Te Aitanga-a-Hauiti)
Rico Nicklin, Marlborough Boys' College (Ngāti Kuia, Rangitāne)
Te Ariki Rogers, Rotorua Boys' High School (Ngāti Whakaue, Te Arawa, Ngāti Pikiao, Ngāti Koro)
Tylerjay Wallace, Palmerston North Boys' High School (Kāi Tahu/Ngāi Tahu)
Not considered for selection to the squads above due to injury: Cruiz Simpson, Sacred Heart College, Ethan McManemin, Tauranga Boys College.
