Fresh from returning from Italy with the New Zealand Under 20s team, we caught up with Harlyn Saunoa to find out about his experience in the black jersey.

Where in Italy were you based, and what were some highlights around the Italian culture you experienced?
We experienced a few different parts of Italy during the trip. We started off in Padua for our pre-tournament camp, then were based in Verona for the rest of the tournament. A big highlight for me was seeing the amazing buildings and architecture. We had the chance to visit Venice, and it was honestly incredible. The culture, the history, and the overall vibe made it a really memorable experience.

It looked pretty hot. How was that, and what did you do to acclimatise and manage the heat?
Yeah, it was extremely hot, with temperatures reaching up to 35 to 40 degrees. To help us prepare, our coaches had us doing sauna and heat-room sessions before we left, which helped kickstart the acclimatisation process. It was still a shock once we arrived, but after a few days we managed to adjust pretty well and handled the heat throughout the tournament.

With the short turnaround between games, what did your weeks look like?
Since we had already spent quite a bit of time together as a team, and this being our second tournament, we didn’t need to overload each week with detail. We usually had five days between games. The first day was focused on recovery. The next day we did reviews, clarity sessions, and gym. Day three was a team training at 80 to 90 percent intensity followed by a power gym session. Then we had captain’s run the day before the game, and the final day was game day.

On field, what are some of your favourite memories?
One of my favourite memories was scoring a double against Georgia. That moment was pretty special. The atmosphere and hearing fans in the crowd yell out your name was a really cool experience I’ll never forget.

How cool was it to be able to experience it all alongside Randall?
It was awesome. Randall and I have been playing together since we were about 13 at Pakuranga. To be able to travel the world and play on this stage alongside one of your best mates is something pretty special. I wouldn’t want to share that experience with anyone else.

What were some of the biggest learnings from the tour for you?
One of the biggest learnings was getting an insight into the other side of professional rugby. Things like handling pressure, dealing with media exposure, and doing interviews were all new experiences that helped me grow and gave me a better understanding of what the professional environment is really like.

Back home, you’ve been named in the Auckland wider squad. What are your goals for the next few months?
Right now, my goal is to keep developing and challenging myself every day. I want to keep improving in all areas with the aim of hopefully making my debut. I’m just focused on continuing to grow and making the most of every opportunity that comes my way.

Article added: Monday 28 July 2025