Two Bay of Plenty rugby players have earned selection in the New Zealand Under-20 team to compete in the IRB Junior World Championships being played in Italy in June.

Sam Cane and Carl Axtens will join the best under-20 rugby players in the country in their effort to defend the IRB Junior World Championship won by New Zealand last year.

Bay of Plenty Rugby Union CEO Mike Rogers is excited for the pair.

'The selection of Sam and Carl in the New Zealand Under-20 team recognises the real value of the Bay of Plenty Rugby player development pathway.

'The two selections show that Bay of Plenty players can progress to New Zealand sides from the Bay, which gives our stars of the future the desire to gain higher honours in the blue and gold uniform.”

Both Sam and Carl's rugby careers have run parallel since lacing up boots in Reporoa JAB rugby as five year olds.

The pair has followed the traditional Bay rugby pathway of primary then under-14, 16 and 18 Bay representative teams.

Both players also earned representation in the 2009 New Zealand Secondary Schools team, which was selected to play their Australian counterparts.

One person, who has had real sideline view of the progression of the two former Reporoa College players, is BOPRU player development manager Dean Jennings.

'Both players were identified at a young age as having outstanding talent and ability and have progressed through the BOP Union Pre-Academy and Academy,” says Dean.

'While Carl and Sam have outstanding talent and skills, they are both extremely hard workers on and off the field, and extremely humble about their achievements.

'Another huge contributing factor has been the parental and family support, especially in their earlier days with many trips from the small township of Reporoa to train and play rugby,” says Dean.

Sam Cane is currently in South Africa with the Chiefs Super XV side, while Carl will remain in camp at the Sport and Rugby Institute in Palmerston North until May 1.

The team assembles on May 31 at the Millennium Institute on the North Shore of Auckland before departing for Italy on June 4.

New Zealand Under-20 Pool Matches

10 June v Italy

14 June v Wales

18 June v Argentina

22 June Semi-finals

26 June Final