New Zealand's under-23 rowing team has been named for the 2026 U23 World Rowing Championships in Duisburg, Germany, from 22–26 July, with five crews drawn from both domestic programmes and US college rowing.
Selection began in March for New Zealand-based athletes, with successful candidates invited into a training block at the Karāpiro base before joining their US-based teammates for final trials from 15–20 June. That trials week covered 2K erg testing, seat races, and a final time trial to determine who could genuinely compete on the world stage.
The women's quad brings together Madison Neale (Dunstan Arm) and Tegan O'Dwyer (Waikato), who both impressed through the domestic programme, alongside Harriet Thompson from Washington State University and Stanford's Emma Bagrie, who carries international experience from the 2024 and 2025 World Rowing U19 Championships. Tegan claimed five silver medals at the 2026 New Zealand Rowing Championships, while Madison won bronze in the Senior Women's Quad and the national title in the Senior Women's Double.
"It is such a privilege to be in this team and exciting that I get to represent NZ for my sport," O'Dwyer said, a sentiment Madison Neale shared: "I'm really excited and grateful to have been selected in the team. It's such a privilege to wear the fern and race for New Zealand."
The men's coxless pair of Tadhg Farac and Charles Beale have both represented New Zealand at the U22 Oceania Regatta and in the 2025 North Island team. Tadhg won silver in the Men's Senior Four for North Shore at nationals, while Charles took bronze in the Men's Senior Coxed Eight for Waikato.
Three of the four men's quad athletes come from Dunstan Arm Rowing Club. Jack Pearson and Mathew King return with U23 World Championship experience from last year's men's double, while Clayton Potts and Fynn Allison make their U23 debuts. "It's been a major goal of mine over the last couple of seasons, so to see all the hard work pay off and earn this opportunity is pretty rewarding," said Allison.
The men's eight carries the expectation of last year's silver medal, with the crew aiming to build on that result. Nicholas Bryan returns having been part of the silver-medal boat, and Dylan McConnell joins after the men's pair finished ninth at the 2025 U23 World Championships. Luke Hickling, Joshua Syme, Sam Woodgate, Oliver Leach, and Matthew Glen all bring U19 World Championship experience. Ted Mayne, who represented New Zealand in the U21 Trans-Tasman team, rounds out the eight, with Waikato's Hunter Rowland as cox.
Madeline Cox from Aramoho Whanganui Rowing Club, currently studying at the University of California, Berkeley, travels as women's travelling reserve.
The squad will complete final preparations at Lake Karāpiro before departing for Germany in early July.
