Under-20 rugby players race through the Tongariro River rapids.

FORTY-FIVE talented young Kiwi rugby players can rest easy after a week outside their comfort zones.

The young men were under-20 players on a week-long team-building challenge at the Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Pursuits Centre in Turangi.

Teams of nine players completed a series of physical and mental challenges including rafting, kayaking, abseiling, orienteering and a high ropes course.

The week of outdoor pursuits is part of a New Zealand Under-20 rugby team selection process, where coaches assess players’ skills and attitudes in challenging situations.

A team of 26 players will be selected to represent New Zealand at next year’s Under 20 Rugby World Cup in Argentina.

Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.