Dylan Pledger: Ranfurly Shield winner, U20 world finalist, eight tries in Otago's run to the final

Between May 2024 and October 2025, Dylan Pledger scored nine tries for New Zealand Under 20, was named in the New Zealand side for a world championship final, helped Otago win the Ranfurly Shield and scored eight tries as they reached their first NPC final in decades. The Dunedin halfback had been signed by the Highlanders and was expected to make his Super Rugby debut in 2026, until a ruptured knee ligament at training in January 2026 put that on hold. He turned 21 in June 2026, and the Highlanders have signed him through 2029. This is the story so far of Dylan Pledger.

Dunedin

Pledger was born on 5 June 2005, according to the Highlanders, and grew up in Dunedin. He went to King's High School, where, by RugbyPass's account, he was the goal-kicking first five in the First XV as a Year 11 in 2021.

He also played touch at a high level. RugbyPass reports that he was named most valuable player at the national secondary schools touch tournament in 2020, and the Otago Daily Times noted in October 2022 that he had already represented New Zealand in an age-group touch team.

New Zealand Schools

On 6 October 2022, as a Year 12 student, Pledger was named in the New Zealand Schools squad for a quadrangular tournament at St Paul's Collegiate in Hamilton, alongside New Zealand Māori under-18, the New Zealand Barbarians under-18 and Fiji Schools. He was the only Otago player in the squad and one of five South Islanders. The Otago Daily Times called him "all-action", a halfback or first five who was now a dual national representative.

His club in Dunedin is Kaikorai, which both the Highlanders and NZ Rugby History list as his home club.

New Zealand Under 20

Pledger went straight from school into the New Zealand Under 20 side in 2024 and was a regular starter, with six starts in seven games, according to NZ Rugby History.

At the first U20 Rugby Championship, on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, he scored after two minutes against Argentina at Sunshine Coast Stadium on 7 May 2024 and added a second try in a 43-20 win, the Otago Daily Times reported. He scored again in a 36-25 win over Australia at the same ground on 12 May 2024, and New Zealand finished the tournament unbeaten as champions.

At the World Rugby U20 Championship in South Africa he scored in the opening 41-34 win over Wales at Athlone Stadium in Cape Town on 29 June 2024 and in a 27-26 win over France in Stellenbosch on 4 July 2024. In the semi-final against France at Cape Town Stadium on 14 July 2024 he ran in a 30-metre solo try, but France won 55-31. New Zealand beat Ireland 38-24 in the bronze final at Cape Town Stadium on 19 July 2024, their best finish since 2017. His 2024 tally was six tries in seven games for New Zealand Under 20.

He played six more games for the side in 2025. At the World Rugby U20 Championship in Italy he scored in a 14-5 win over the hosts in Calvisano on 29 June 2025, then twice in a 69-22 win over Ireland, also in Calvisano, on 9 July 2025. New Zealand beat France 34-26 in the semi-final in Viadana on 14 July 2025, and the Otago Daily Times reported that Pledger was in the unchanged starting side for the final against South Africa in Rovigo on 19 July 2025. South Africa won 23-15. He finished his under-20 career with 13 games and nine tries, NZ Rugby History records.

Otago

Pledger's first NPC games for Otago came in 2024, two appearances off the bench. The 2025 season was his breakthrough. He started 10 of his 11 games and scored eight tries, the first of them in a 46-41 win over Wellington in Porirua on 17 August 2025. He scored again in a 33-19 win over Counties Manukau in Dunedin on 24 August 2025 and in a 31-27 loss to Tasman in Nelson on 30 August 2025.

On 20 September 2025 Otago went to Apollo Projects Stadium in Christchurch and took the Ranfurly Shield from Canterbury, 38-36. Pledger's long pass sent lock Joseva Tamani in for one of their tries, the Otago Daily Times reported. In Otago's first defence of the shield, against North Harbour at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin on 27 September 2025, he scored twice in a 41-26 win.

He was just as busy in the play-offs. He scored two tries in a 44-41 quarter-final win over Waikato in Dunedin on 10 October 2025 and another in a 41-17 semi-final win over Bay of Plenty in Dunedin on 17 October 2025, in front of 10,764 people. That sent Otago to the final, against Canterbury at Apollo Projects Stadium on 25 October 2025. Pledger made a probing run in the fifth minute that led to the opening try for Thomas Umaga-Jensen, the provincial.rugby report noted, but Canterbury won 36-28. The Highlanders described it as Otago's first championship final in decades.

The Highlanders, and a wait

The Highlanders were next. When they named their 2026 squad on 6 November 2025, Pledger was one of three New Zealand Under 20 players joining the club, and the announcement described him as "the well performed Dylan Pledger" in a halfback group with Folau Fakatava and Adam Lennox. 1News reported that he had been in contention for the All Blacks XV tour of Europe in November 2025, but that head coach Jamie Joseph felt he would be better served by a season of Super Rugby first.

That season did not come. On 12 January 2026 the Highlanders announced that he had ruptured an anterior cruciate ligament at training, an injury that needed surgery and ruled him out of both the 2026 Super Rugby and NPC seasons. He said he had been "very excited about my first full season as a professional", and added that he had learned early that "part of being a professional rugby player is dealing with injury".

He kept busy. He is studying for a Bachelor of Commerce, majoring in accounting, and in October 2026 he spoke to young players at the Highlanders' regional schools camp about balancing rugby, university and rehabilitation, the club reported.

Style and standing

The Otago Daily Times called him all-action in 2022, the provincial.rugby report of the 2025 final described him as "lively", and the Highlanders' 2026 squad announcement called him "well performed". In announcing the 2027 squad, Joseph spoke of Pledger and Lennox as "young players who are continuing to develop and push hard for opportunities".

He has not played Test rugby for any country.

Looking to 2027

On 28 October 2026 the Highlanders named Pledger in their 2027 squad, one of three halfbacks with Fakatava and Lennox, and confirmed that he is signed through 2029. The squad assembles on 26 November 2026, and the Highlanders open their 2027 season against the Fijian Drua in Fiji on 13 February 2027. His Super Rugby debut is still to come.

Career at a glance

Otago and New Zealand Under 20 figures are NZ Rugby History's and match RugbyPass and Wikipedia's try records.