Manawatū players Mosese Bason and Jai Tamati have been named in the New Zealand squad for the 2025 Under 20 Rugby Championship.

This is Bason’s second year in the team, having played in last year's Under 20 Rugby Championship and the U20 World Rugby Championship. The loose forward made his Turbos debut last year, featuring in five games in his first year our of Feilding High School.  Bason has played for the Hurricanes U20 team the past two seasons, winning the Super Rugby U20 player of the tournament in 2024.

Halfback Tamati cracks the national side after two seasons with the Hurricanes U20s. He is no stranger to a black jersey though, having played for the New Zealand Sevens Development team last year.  

Both players are in their second year with the Manawatū Rugby Academy. They are also on New Zealand Rugby national development contracts, which saw them train with the Hurricanes senior team in the preseason. Tamati recorded the quickest time in the Hurricane’s bronco test in December, with 4:23.

Manawatū Academy prop Logan Wallace, who played for New Zealand U20 last year, was unavailable due to injury.

Other players in the squad who played secondary school rugby in the Manawatū include Tayne Harvey, Eli Oudenryn (both Palmerston North Boys’ High School), Dane Johnstone, and Taniela Maisiri (both Feilding High School).

You can see for full squad here.

Article added: Monday 07 April 2025