There was plenty for the club to celebrate this week as five players from North Shore Rugby Club proudly represented New Zealand Universities Rugby in two fixtures against the Japan U20 side — and what performances they was.

NZU produced a great display to claim a commanding 74–12 victory at Waikato University on Tuesday afternoon, and backed that up with anothe commanding 57-26 performance on Saturday. 

Congrats on your debuts to James Fairbairn; Oskar Kollar; Tyler Beary and Rory Taylor with Brian Lealifano having played in years previous .

All five had big games in a match that showcased the depth of talent coming through the university rugby pathway in New Zealand. Against a Japanese side preparing for the upcoming World Rugby U20 Championship, NZU played with pace, and physicality running in a series of impressive tries in front of a good crowd and live-stream audience.

For North Shore Rugby Club, seeing five players earn selection in the black jersey is a tremendous achievement and reflects the hard work being done by the players, coaches and support staff throughout the year.

The long-standing relationship between NZU and Japanese rugby dates back to 1936 and remains one of university rugby’s great traditions. Opportunities such as these continue to provide players with invaluable experience on the international stage while strengthening rugby connections between the two nations.

Congratulations again to James, Oskar, Tyler, Rory and Brian on representing both NZU and Shore. Up the Pride!

Article added: Wednesday 27 May 2026