North Shore Rugby Club is proud to congratulate five of our players who have been selected in the New Zealand Universities (NZU) squad to face Japan later this month.

Selected in the 26-man squad are:

• James Fairbairn
• Oskar Kollar
• Tyler Beary
• Rory Taylor
• Brian Lealifano

Their selection caps off an outstanding month for the Club, following JD van der Westhuizen being named in the New Zealand Under 20 side that recently toured South Africa and will be now heading to the U20 World Cup and Kate Williams being appointed as captain of the Welsh international side that played in the Six Nations.

NZ Universities are taking on the World Cup bound Japan U20 side in two matches in Hamilton on 26 May (at Waikato University - 2:30pm kick off) and on 30 May at FMG Stadium (4:05pm kick off as a curtain raiser to the Chiefs v Blues fixture)

North Shore Rugby is proud to be affiliated with New Zealand Universities Rugby Football Council, and it is incredibly rewarding to see so many of our players recognised on the national stage. 

Oskar and Brian (Lincoln Uni graduates); James (Massey Albany Uni student); Tyler (Otago Uni graduate); and Rory (Auck Uni graduate) represent one of the modern pathways of the game — talented young men pursuing excellence both on and off the field.

These five also highlight the vision shown by the NZ Universities board in recognising the need for stronger rugby opportunities for Auckland’s large tertiary student population, particularly north of the Harbour Bridge. Following the absence of North Harbour Marist from senior rugby, North Shore was entrusted with helping carry that mantle forward — an opportunity we are immensely proud of and committed to growing.

With major student communities on our back door, connected in particullar to Massey Albany University and AUT, North Shore is developing multi-tier relationships to ensure rugby remains accessible, aspirational and connected for the campuses and the student-athletes across the region.

Congratulations again to all five players (and again to Kate and JD) on an outstanding achievement and a well-deserved opportunity to represent New Zealand Universities on the international stage.

Article added: Tuesday 12 May 2026