All Blacks Sevens duo headline New Zealand's 30-man Junior World Championship squad

New Zealand U20 head coach Kane Jury has named a 30-man squad for the World Rugby Junior Championship in Georgia, with eight changes from the side that featured in the Rugby Championship U20 tournament — headlined by the inclusion of two All Blacks Sevens players.

World Rugby Men’s SVNS Rookie of the Year Kele Lasaqa and Taranaki loose-forward Bradley Tocker both transition from the Sevens programme into the Junior World Championship setup, with Jury pointing to New Zealand Rugby’s dual development pathway as the mechanism that made their availability possible.

“Kele and Bradley coming through the sevens programme is an example of the dual development pathway available to our emerging players,” Jury said. “A big part of how players have presented themselves and the competition for places can be attributed to the guidance and support from their Provincial Union programmes.”

Manawatu hooker Alani Fakava, Blues hooker Xavier Leota, and loose-forward Jake Hutchings also join the travelling party, while Junior Crusaders prop James Moore, Hawke’s Bay midfielder Triumph Voice, and Canterbury-born Lautasi Etuale return to contention after injuries ruled them out of the Rugby Championship U20 tournament.

One notable absentee is barnstorming loose-forward Finn McLeod, who misses the Junior World Championship through injury — a blow for a squad Jury describes as having generated genuine internal competition since players first assembled in November.

“That’s a real testament to the focus the players have had with their development plans and the work they’ve done on and off the field,” Jury said. “There has been genuine competition for places and a number of players have forced their way into the squad through club rugby.”

Jury also highlighted the impact of a recent development camp that brought 20 tight-five forwards together under the guidance of All Blacks assistant coach Jason Ryan.

“That was a world class experience for these players and gave them a taste of what’s expected of a player aspiring to play at the All Blacks level,” he said.

The squad includes props Alexander Hewitt, Dane Johnston (Hurricanes/Wellington), James Moore (Chiefs/Taranaki), Henry Stuart (Crusaders/Canterbury), and Ethan Webber (Highlanders/Otago), alongside locks Max Fale (Crusaders/Canterbury), Johnny Falloon (Hurricanes/Wellington), and Jake Frost (Crusaders/Canterbury).