Ten Hurricanes Under-20 (U20) rising stars have been named in the New Zealand U20 squad for the inaugural Rugby Championship U20 tournament to be played in Australia next month.

Jeremiah Avei-Collins (Wellington), Joshua Smith (Hawke’s Bay), Konradd Newland (Hawke’s Bay), Mosese Bason (Manawatū), Sam Coles (Manawatū), Stanley Solomon (Wellington), Tom Allen (Hawke’s Bay), and Vernon Bason (Manawatū) have been picked in the 31-player squad, while Logan Wallace (Manawatū) and Tofuka Paongo (Wellington) have been named as non-travelling reserves.

The Hurricanes five National Development Contract (NDC) players, Newland, Vernon Bason, Coles, Allen and Wallace were all selected in the side.

Hurricanes U20 Head Coach Darren Larsen said he was proud of the selected players and paid tribute to the Hurricanes provincial unions (PUs) for the work they do with the players in preparing them for the next level.

“I am very proud. Ten players is right up there for us, so that is pleasing to see. But more so proud of the work the players have done themselves in collaboration with their provincial unions,” said Larsen.

“Our selection of the Hurricanes U20 side was born through our provincial union academies and the Sam Doyle Memorial Trophy (Hurricanes U20 tournament). We only had six training sessions together and played three games in the national tournament in Taupo this year, so a big part of the work was done through their PU’s. Now, the players get to proudly represent their PUs and their whānau on a bigger stage. It’s amazing to see.”

A final squad of 30 for the U20 World Rugby Championship in South Africa will be announced following the Rugby Championship Under 20 tournament.