New Zealand national under-20 rugby union team

Last updated

New Zealand
New Zealand national under-20 rugby union team logo.svg
Union New Zealand Rugby
Nickname(s)Baby Blacks
Coach(es) Jarrad Hoeata
Alex Robertson
Top scorer Trent Renata (59)
Most tries Zac Guildford and Tevita Li (8)
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Kit right arm shoulder stripes black shirt alt.png
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Kit shorts white stripes.png
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Team kit
First international
Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand 48–9 Tonga Flag of Tonga.svg
(6 June 2008; Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff)
Largest win
Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand 92–0 Wales Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg
(14 June 2011; Rugby Rovigo Delta, Rovigo)
Largest defeat
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Australia 24–0 New Zealand Flag of New Zealand.svg
(5 May 2019; Bond Sports Park, Gold Coast)
World Cup
Appearances15 (First in 2008)
Best resultChampions (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2015, 2017)

The New Zealand national under-20 rugby union team, nicknamed the Baby Blacks, is the representative rugby union team from New Zealand. It replaced the two former age grade teams, the under-19s and the under-21s. Their first tournament was the 2008 IRB Junior World Championship, which they won after defeating England (38–3) in the final. [1] They have gone on to also win the World Rugby Under 20 Championship in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2015 and 2017. The New Zealand under-20s have been nicknamed the "Baby Blacks" after the youthful All Blacks side which played in 1986.

Contents

Overall

Summary of all matches played by the New Zealand Under-20s as of 19 July 2025

OppositionPlayedWonDrawnLost%Win
Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina 7700100%
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 18131472%
Flag of England.svg  England 650183%
Flag of Fiji.svg  Fiji 7700100%
Flag of France.svg  France 740357%
Flag of Georgia.svg  Georgia 4400100%
IRFU flag.svg  Ireland 1090190%
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 3300100%
Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 4400100%
Flag of Samoa.svg  Samoa 5500100%
Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 4400100%
Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 1021720%
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 1100100%
Flag of Tonga.svg  Tonga 2200100%
Flag of Uruguay.svg  Uruguay 1100100%
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 1190282%
Total1008021880%

World Rugby U20 Championship record

YearRoundPositionPldWDLPFPA
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg 2008 Champions1st550024228
Flag of Japan.svg 2009 Champions1st550021554
Flag of Argentina.svg 2010 Champions1st550026252
Flag of Italy.svg 2011 Champions1st550027451
Flag of South Africa.svg 2012 Runners-up2nd530214849
Flag of France.svg 2013 Semi-finals4th5302159116
Flag of New Zealand.svg 2014 Semi-finals3rd5302196107
Flag of Italy.svg 2015 Champions1st550019163
Flag of England.svg 2016 5th place5th540122386
Flag of Georgia.svg 2017 Champions1st550028292
Flag of France.svg 2018 Semi-finals4th530217384
Flag of Argentina.svg 2019 7th place7th530216196
Flag of South Africa.svg 2023 7th place7th5302188150
Flag of South Africa.svg 2024 Semi-finals3rd5401182152
Flag of Italy.svg 2025 Runners-up2nd540117095
Total15/156 titles75600153,0661,275

Oceania Rugby U20 Championship record

YearRoundPositionPldWDLPFPA
Flag of Australia (converted).svg 2015 Champions1st330015743
Flag of Australia (converted).svg 2016 Champions1st21015435
Flag of Australia (converted).svg 2017 Champions1st330018632
Flag of Australia (converted).svg 2018 Champions1st330019543
Flag of Australia (converted).svg 2019 Runners-up2nd320114043
Flag of Australia (converted).svg 2022 Champions1st330017526
Total6/65 titles171502907222

U20 Rugby Championship record

YearRoundPositionPldWDLPFPA
Flag of Australia (converted).svg 2024 Champions1st32109258
Flag of South Africa.svg 2025 Champions1st321015295
Total2/22 titles6420244153

Players

Recent squads

2025

On 27 May, 2025, a 30-player squad was announced for the 2025 World Rugby U20 Championship in Italy. [2]

PlayerPositionRegion/Province
Shaun Kempton Hooker Highlanders, Southland
Manumaua Letiu Hooker Crusaders, Canterbury
Eli Oudenryn Hooker Crusaders, Tasman
Tamiano Ahloo Prop Blues, Auckland
Robson Faleafa Prop Blues, Auckland
Dane Johnston Prop Chiefs, Taranaki
Sika Pole Prop Blues, Auckland
Logan Wallace Prop Hurricanes, Manawatu
Jayden Sa Lock Chiefs, Taranaki
Joshua Tengblad Lock Highlanders, Otago
Aisake Vakasiuola Lock Chiefs, Bay of Plenty
Mosese Bason Loose forward Hurricanes, Manawatu
Micah Fale Loose forward Chiefs, Waikato
Oli Mathis Loose forward Chiefs, Waikato
Xavier Treacy Loose forward Crusaders, Canterbury
Caleb Woodley Loose forward Blues, Auckland
Finn McLeod Loose forward Crusaders, Canterbury
Dylan Pledger Halfback Highlanders, Otago
Charlie Sinton Halfback Chiefs, Bay of Plenty
Jai Tamati Halfback Hurricanes, Manawatu
Will Cole First five-eighth Hurricanes, Hawke's Bay
Rico Simpson First five-eighth Blues, Auckland
James Cameron Midfield back Crusaders, Canterbury
Tayne Harvey Midfield back Highlanders, Southland
Cooper Roberts Midfield back Crusaders, Canterbury
Jack Wiseman Midfield back Chiefs, Taranaki
Maloni Kunawave Wing Crusaders, Tasman
Harlyn Saunoa Wing Blues, Auckland
Frank Vaenuku Wing Chiefs, Bay of Plenty
Stanley Solomon Fullback Hurricanes, Wellington

Non-travelling reserves

Dylan Eti, Harry Irving, Raharuhi Palmer, Aio Keith, Mika Muliaina, Taniela Maisiri, Riley Tofilau, Ollie Burra, David Lewai, Randall Baker, Israel Time

Award winners

The following New Zealand U20s players have been recognised at the World Rugby Awards since 2008: [3]

World Rugby Junior Player of the Year
YearNomineesWinners
2008 Luke Braid Luke Braid
Chris Smith
2009 Aaron Cruden Aaron Cruden
Winston Stanley
2010 Tyler Bleyendaal Julian Savea
Julian Savea
2011 Sam Cane
Luke Whitelock
2013 Ardie Savea
2014 Tevita Li
2015 Akira Ioane
Tevita Li (2)
2016 Shaun Stevenson
2017 Tiaan Falcon
Will Jordan

Coaches

Due to the U20 category only existing since the combining of the U19 and U21 age groups in 2007, the following table only includes coaches appointed since. In the inaugural tournament in 2008, Dave Rennie and Russell Hilton-Jones served as co-coaches in charge of the team. Craig Philpott is the longest serving coach. Jarrad Hoeata and Alex Robertson are the current co-head coaches.

Updated to: 19 July 2025

CoachTenurePWDLW%
Flag of New Zealand.svg Dave Rennie 20085500
Flag of New Zealand.svg Russell Hilton-Jones20085500
Flag of New Zealand.svg Dave Rennie 2009–2010101000
Flag of New Zealand.svg Mark Anscombe 20115500
Flag of New Zealand.svg Rob Penney 20125302
Flag of New Zealand.svg Chris Boyd 2013–201410604
Flag of New Zealand.svg Scott Robertson 2015–2016151401
Flag of New Zealand.svg Craig Philpott2017–2019241905
Flag of New Zealand.svg Tom Donnelly 20223300
Flag of Scotland.svg Clark Laidlaw 20237403
Flag of New Zealand.svg Jono Gibbes 20248611
Flag of New Zealand.svg Milton Haig 20253210
Flag of New Zealand.svg Jarrad Hoeata 2025–5401
Flag of New Zealand.svg Alex Robertson2025–5401

See also

References

  1. Clutton, Graham. "Final: New Zealand 38–3 England". irb.com. Archived from the original on 24 April 2014. Retrieved 22 July 2008.
  2. "New Zealand squad named for World Rugby Under 20 Championship". nzrugby.co.nz. May 27, 2025.
  3. "Awards Roll of Honour - World Rugby". www.world.rugby. Retrieved 16 March 2024.