The top 5 players to watch in the Mitre 10 Cup

With the Mitre 10 Cup at full swing, we take a look at the outstanding players of the league:

Jordie Barrett

Jordie made the Barrett family proud by being the fifth and last of the Barrett to burst into the rugby scene, with older brother Beauden in the All Blacks, Blake who was in the Taranaki age group, as well as Kane and Scott who paved their through Super Rugby.

His father, Kevin 'Smiley' Barrett, was a loose forward for Taranaki, playing 167 games for the club.

Jordie was part of the New Zealand U20 squad at this year's World Rugby U20 Championships, leaving the field with a try under his name.

The 19-year-old is currently sharpening his craft at Cantebury in the Mitre 10 Cup.

 
Jack Goodhue

After being restricted to only 5 games in his Canterbury debut in 2014 with an injury, Goodhue burst through the rugby scene with intentions of only impressing.

Having made his name in the All Blacks 7s in 2015, the 21-year-old also captained the New Zealand U20s in a game during the 2015 World Rugby U20 Championships.

Goodhue received a call-up into the Crusaders squad as injury cover for the 2016 season.

 
Rieko Ioane

Rieko has a strong rugby heritage in his family, with his father being a former Samoa International and his mother a former player for the Black Ferns.

His brother, Akira, also stunts for Auckland and was a member of the New Zealand 7s Squad in the 2015 Wellington Sevens.

While also becoming one of five players called into the All Blacks squad for the Bedisloe Cup Test against Australia, the 19-year-old Rieko has had a stunning season with the Blues and developed his skills on the Sevens circuit for New Zealand.

Ioane's versitility easily allows him to slip into the wing or the centre position.

 
Michael Collins

The former captain of Otago Boys’ High School 1st XV and former New Zealand Schools representative became the first player to be signed to premiership level straight from school.

He represented New Zealand Under-20s on five occasions in 2013.

At the age of 19, Collins was offered deals by Melbourne Storm and Waikato, but declined to join Otago, where he is currently maturing his displays.

Fletcher Smith

Smith recently earned a short-term contract with the Highlanders and made 2 substitute appearances.

The University of Otago product developed his rugby career just last year, turning out 11 times for Otago in the ITM Cup Championship and playing a significant role in their 3rd-place finish.