 Pledger in 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | (2005-06-05) 5 June 2005 New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Height | 171 cm (5 ft 7 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 74 kg (163 lb; 11 st 9 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | King's High School, Dunedin | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Dylan Pledger (born 5 June 2005) is a New Zealand rugby union player, who plays for the Highlanders and Otago. His preferred position is halfback.1
He competed for New Zealand Touch Blacks in the 2023 B18 Youth Trans Tasman final against Australia.2
Early career
Pledger grew up in Dunedin and attended King's High School, Dunedin, where he played rugby,3 earning selection for the New Zealand Schools side in 2022.4 After leaving school he joined the Highlanders academy system representing the Highlanders U20 side in 2025.5 His performances earned him selection for the New Zealand U20 side in 2024 and 2025.67
Professional career
Pledger has represented Otago in the National Provincial Championship since 2024, being named in the squad for the 2025 Bunnings NPC.8 He was named in the Highlanders squad for the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season.9
References
References
- "Dylan Pledger". Ultimate Rugby. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
- "Congratulations to King's Year 13 student Dylan Pledger for selection to the 2023 NZ U18 Men's Touch team". King's High School. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
- "New Zealand U20s star halfback rated better than Ben Smith coming out of high school". Rugby Pass. 4 August 2024. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
- "Pledger lone Otago player in NZ Schools side". Otago Daily Times. 8 October 2022. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
- "John Jones Steel Highlanders U20 squad for Taupo tournament". Highlanders. 13 March 2025. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
- "Pledger stars in U20s win". Otago Daily Times. 8 May 2024. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
- "Pledger in NZ team for final". Otago Daily Times. 19 July 2025. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
- @otagorugbyteam; (14 July 2025). "2025 OTAGO BUNNINGS WAREHOUSE NPC TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT". Retrieved 17 July 2025 – via Instagram.
- "Fresh faces and international experience feature in 2026 Highlanders squad" (Press release). Highlanders. 6 November 2025. Retrieved 6 November 2025.