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Next-gen to ‘pull on the gold jersey’ after landmark U16 announcement
By Finn Morton
Following the end of the Super Rugby U16 Championship last weekend, Rugby Australia has announced an Australian squad that will see the nation’s brightest up-and-coming rugby talent “pull on the gold jersey.”
National Pathways Manager, Nic Henderson, and Head Coach Tim Rapp have selected a squad of 25 players who will take on a Pacific All Stars side on December 12 at the Australian Institute of Sport’s rugby field.
With the junior Super Rugby competitions proving to be a success in their inaugural seasons, with the Waratahs and Brumbies claiming titles, this Australia U16 side is another opportunity to showcase the future of Australian rugby.
“We’ve picked an extremely talented squad out of the Super Rugby U16s Championship that will come into camp on December 8 at the AIS,” Rugby Australia’s National Pathways Manager, Nic Henderson, said in a statement.
“Starting with the upcoming game against the Pacific All Stars, this will be the first of many opportunities for these young men to pull on a gold jersey and represent their country.
“It’s exciting to think there are players in this squad that could be our Wallabies at the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia, and we’re looking forward to harnessing and encouraging that talent.”
The team will be coached by the renowned trio of Tim Rapp, Cam Blaes and Ryan Schultz. This squad will assemble at the AIS on December 8 before facing the Pacific All Stars.
Australia U16 2023 squad:
Forwards
Bennett Armistead (Reds)
Berakah Tuifaasisina (Reds)
Daryus Sione (Waratahs)
Ed Baxter (Waratahs)
James Finegan (Waratahs)
Jarvis Orr (Waratahs)
Justice Taumoepeau (Waratahs)
Kiama Jione (Reds)
Kingsley Uys (Reds)
Lewis Wilson (Waratahs)
Liam Robinson (Reds)
Marcus Mastro (Waratahs)
Louis Treacy (Rebels)
Will Ross (Reds)
Backs
Angus Grover (Waratahs)
Cameron Kirsten (Brumbies)
Denzel Veikune (Brumbies)
Finn McKay (Reds)
Heamasi Makasini (Waratahs)
Liam Collett (Brumbies)
Onitoni Large (Waratahs)
Peni Naqau (Force)
Rex Bassingthwaighte (Waratahs)
Tom Hartman (Waratahs)
Treyvon Pritchard (Reds)
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Latest Comments
If you have to play more games, you need to have more players…..and a larger salary cap…. But If you play more games you get more money to pay salaries from people in the stands and from TV… It's not only a problem of rules, it's a choice too….
Go to commentsThe weirdest thing is that NZ have not developed more 10s.
By the time the next World Cup rolls around the Barrett vs. DMac vs. Mo’unga debate will have been going for the best part of 10 years without a single genuine contender emerging.
They divide opinion but all three ARE world class players. It is so strange that the last world class 10 to emerge in NZ was Mo’unga who made his SR debut in 2016.
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