• Seven Auckland Rugby Academy players announced in New Zealand Under 20s
• The Auckland Rugby Academy continues to lead the New Zealand rugby landscape.
• Nine players included in recent Black Ferns training camp.

In the same week that Auckland Rugby announced a growth of 72 teams across the Auckland Rugby Club community, the union has achieved the biggest contingent of players of any other provincial union in the New Zealand Under 20s squad.

Auckland Rugby strives to provide the leading High Performance program in New Zealand and the inclusion of seven players in the National Under 20 side only strengthens the unions position in the New Zealand Rugby landscape.

New Zealand Rugby announced Sione Ahio, Vaiolini Ekuasi, Corey Evans, Joshua Fusitua, Meihana Grindlay, Manu Paea and Soane Vikena in the 2021 New Zealand Under 20s Squad.

All seven New Zealand Under 20s representatives have come through the Auckland Rugby Academy system.

Corey Evans attended Auckland Grammar School and represented New Zealand at age group level. Evans suffered three ACL injuries in the last three years. With the help of the Auckland Rugby Academy through rehab and strength training, Evans has worked his way back into another national side and will be looking for his opportunity with the Auckland NPC side this season.

Sione Ahio is a Liston College old boy who attended an Auckland Rugby Under 19 open trial and was selected in the Auckland Rugby Academy. The Prop who hails out of the Waitemata Rugby Club made the Blues Under 20s side for the recent Super Rugby tournament in Taupo where he impressed New Zealand selectors.

Soane Vikena played his school rugby at Mt Albert Grammar School and made his NPC debut for Auckland last season. Vikena made his Super Rugby debut for The Blues in Round 9 against the Crusaders and has signed with Auckland Rugby until 2024.

A former De La Salle College student and New Zealand Schools representative, Vaiolini Ekuasi received a scholarship to St Peters School Cambridge in his last year of school rugby. Ekuasi returned to the Auckland Rugby Academy program and has now secured his future with the union until 2022.

Manu Paea moved from Otahuhu College to Rotorua Boys’ High School on scholarship. Paea represented NZ schools and then returned to the Auckland Rugby Academy program. The Eden Rugby Club member will look to impress in the 2021 NPC season for Auckland.

Joshua Fusitua, brother of NZ Warriors Winger David Fusitua came through Auckland age group programs before joining the Auckland Rugby Academy and signing with the union.

Former Kings College student and NZ Schools representative, Meihana Grindlay will be eyeing up his opportunity for Auckland in the Bunnings NPC this season.

In 2020, 29 Auckland Rugby Academy graduates took the field in The Blue and White Hoops, while a further 25 graduates contributed their talents at other unions.

In the Women’s space, Auckland Rugby continues to produce talent with 19 of the 26-strong Blues Wahine Super Rugby team coming from the Auckland region.

Along with five current Black Ferns, a further four have been added to the recent Black Ferns training camp. This includes Auckland Storm squad members Maia Roos, Liana Mikaele Tu’u, Vineta Teutau and Sylvia Brunt.

Auckland Rugby’s Head of High Performance Ben Meyer believes that the strength of the union’s current academy program is beginning to show a positive trend through to national honors.

“It is humbling to see the success of the young men and women who have come through the Auckland Rugby program grow and become quality athletes. From the performances of our Under 20s, through to our NPC and FPC players being selected for the All Blacks and Blacks Ferns in recent years.”

It is a true testament to not only the work of our High Performance team, but the quality of our coaches and our club and school systems who have shaped our Auckland Rugby players” says Meyer.