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Devan Flanders (born 20 July 1999) is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a loose forward for the Hurricanes in Super Rugby and Hawke's Bay in New Zealand's domestic National Provincial Championship competition.

Early career

Devan Flanders attended Hastings Boys' High School, where he played First XV rugby alongside future Hawke's Bay teammates Folau Fakatava, Lincoln McClutchie, Danny Toala and Kianu Kereru-Symes. He helped his team to two National Top 4 finals, narrowly losing the first against Mount Albert Grammar School (13 - 14) in 2016, but winning the second against Hamilton Boys' High School 25 to 17 after an undefeated season in 2017. Flanders was named man of the match following that victory.

In 2017, Flanders was named in the Hurricanes U18 team.

Senior career

On 7 August 2017, the Hawke's Bay Rugby Union announced that four players of that year's successful Hastings Boys' High School First XV side, including Devan Flanders, had signed with the union for 2018 and 2019. Flanders made his Magpies debut on 19 August 2018 against Southland and earned his first start against Canterbury on 30 September 2018. He cemented himself as a regular starter for the Magpies in the following seasons. He has since re-signed with Hawke's Bay for 2020 and 2021.

Flanders signed his first contract with the Hurricanes for the 2020 season and made his Super Rugby debut for the franchise on 2 February 2020 against the Stormers. He scored his first try for the Hurricanes during their Super Rugby Aotearoa game against the Highlanders on 12 July 2020. On 26 June 2020, the Hurricanes announced that Flanders had re-signed with the franchise for the 2021 and 2022 seasons. In 2022, he-resigned for a further two seasons and again in 2024.

International career

After his last year at Hastings Boys' High School, Flanders was named in the New Zealand Secondary Schools team for a three-match international series in Australia. He started in all three games, including a 34 - 11 victory over Australian Schools. For his outstanding performance during the series Flanders was rewarded with the Jerry Collins Memorial Bronze Boot.

Flanders was a member of the New Zealand Under-20 side that competed in the Oceania Rugby Under 20 Championship and the World Rugby Under 20 Championship in 2018 and 2019.

Whilst not initially named in the All Blacks XV squad for two matches against Munster and Georgia, Flanders was called into the squad on 30 October 2024 as a replacement player. He made his debut for the team on 2 November 2024 in the game against Munster, which ended in a 38–14 victory to the All Blacks XV.

Reference list

1. "Devan Flanders Hurricanes Player Profile". Hurricanes. 2020. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
2. @hbmagpies (31 July 2024). "Squad 2024". Retrieved 6 August 2024 – via Instagram.
3. "Mount Albert Grammar win national 1st XV title". Stuff New Zealand. 6 September 2016. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
4. "Live: National 1st XV Top Four high school rugby tournament". Stuff New Zealand. 10 September 2017. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
5. "Hasting Boys' High School complete their perfect season with national 1st XV title". Stuff New Zealand. 10 September 2017. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
6. "Hurricanes Under 18 Team For 2017 Announced". Hurricanes Youth Rugby Council. 13 July 2017. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
7. "Exciting young talent commits to Hawke's Bay Rugby". Hawke's Bay Rugby Union. 7 August 2017. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
8. "Former Hastings Boys' High talent re-signed for Magpies". Hawke's Bay Rugby Union. 23 July 2020. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
9. "Meet the player: Devan Flanders". Hurricanes. 28 February 2020. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
10. "Hurricanes beat Highlanders 17 – 11 at Sky Stadium". Hurricanes. 13 July 2020. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
11. "Hurricanes sign Flanders, Mafileo until 2022" (Press release). Hurricanes. 23 June 2020. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
12. "Hawke's Bay duo recommit to Hurricanes through 2024" (Press release). Hurricanes. 27 June 2022. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
13. "Forwards re-commit to Hurricanes through 2026 and 2027" (Press release). Hurricanes. 16 May 2024. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
14. "New Zealand Schools' and New Zealand Schools' Barbarians named". Rugby Heartland. 24 September 2017. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
15. "NZ Schools victorious over Australia Schools". All Blacks. 7 October 2017. Archived from the original on 18 November 2020. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
16. "Under 20 squad named for Oceania Rugby Championship" (Press release). All Blacks. 28 March 2018. Archived from the original on 11 December 2020. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
17. "New Zealand Under 20 squad named for World Rugby Championship" (Press release). All Blacks. 8 May 2018. Archived from the original on 11 December 2020. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
18. "New Zealand Under 20s named for first tournament of 2019". All Blacks. Archived from the original on 5 April 2019. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
19. "NZ Under 20 squad named for World Rugby Championship" (Press release). All Blacks. 8 May 2019. Archived from the original on 26 June 2019. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
20. "Update to All Blacks XV squad for Northern Tour". allblacks.com (Press release). 30 October 2024. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
21. "Late blitz sees All Blacks XV secure testy win over Munster". RugbyPass. 3 November 2024. Retrieved 3 November 2024.

External links

• NZ Rugby History profile
• itsrugby.co.uk profile

• 1999 births
• Living people
• People educated at Hastings Boys' High School
• New Zealand rugby union players
• Rugby union players from Hastings, New Zealand
• Rugby union flankers
• Rugby union number eights
• Hurricanes (rugby union) players
• Hawke's Bay rugby union players