Otago has three players selected in the New Zealand under-20 squad to play in the Oceania championship in Australia next month.
Southern hooker Ricky Riccitelli, University loose forward Dillon Hunt and University inside back Fletcher Smith have all been picked for the 30-man squad.
The squad features seven players who played in last year's junior world championship in Auckland and seven contracted Super rugby players.
Riccitelli, originally from Taranaki, captained the Otago under-19 side last year and is a capable hooker around the field.
Hunt is an abrasive flanker from University and has made a rapid rise through the ranks.
Smith is a promising inside back, who can play first five-eighth and second five-eighth, and has a good kicking game.
The squad has the likes of Blues winger Tevita Li, Hurricanes lock Geoffrey Cridge and Hurricanes first five-eight Otere Blake in it.
Damian McKenzie (Chiefs), Akira Ioane (Blues) and Nathanial Apa (Crusaders) have Super rugby commitments and will not be available for the tournament on the Gold Coast but may be available for the junior world championships in Italy in June.
The tournament on the Gold Coast involves teams from New Zealand, Australia, Samoa and Japan and will involve three games in nine days for each side early next month.
It is a new tournament designed to give sides some match fitness before the world championships the following month.
The team for the tournament in Italy will be named after the Gold Coast tournament.
• Six Otago University players have been selected in the New Zealand Universities team to tour Japan next month.
Backs Matt Faddes, Gavin Stark, Fa'asiu Fuatai, and Kaide Whiting have been selected along with forwards Sione Teu and Angus Williams.
The side will play three games in Japan, starting at the end of this month. Former Highlanders, Otago and Southland lock Brendon Timmins, of Dunedin, will coach the team.
