Devan Flanders, like many before him, grew up with the goal of wearing the yellow and black Hurricanes jersey.

While for most, it’s a pipeline dream – Flanders had cracked it before even getting out of his teens.

From a rugby mad family in Hastings, Hawke’s Bay - the 20-year-old flanker first signed up to Havelock North Rugby Club at the tender age of four.

He says, it wasn’t long before he was hooked.

“We were always playing rugby when we could. Both my brothers, all my cousins and my dad played rugby and they love watching it too.”

Although, it was high school that Flanders really made a name for himself. Drafted into the Hurricanes Under-18’s squad he was also a pivotal part of helping Hastings Boy’s High to its first ever national title in 2017.

He then went on to play in the New Zealand Secondary Schools team and received the Jerry Collins Memorial Bronze Boot for most valuable player.

With awards racking up, Flanders began a meteoric rise through the senior rugby ranks which saw him play for Mitre 10 Cup team the Magpies before receiving his first professional contract with the Hurricanes for the 2020 season.

“It was always a dream of mine to play for the Hurricanes – in fact it was all I wanted to do when I was older, “Flanders says.

Flanders says making his debut against the Stormers in Cape Town was an incredibly proud moment.

 “My family and I were so excited and nervous before that first game. It was a very surreal moment, where I could finally see how far I’d come in my career.”

And, despite having achieved his childhood goal of becoming a part of the Hurricanes, he’s now invested in learning everything he can from his teammates both on and off the field.