Gen Blue Cup: Best 125 14, 15 year old rugby players, Waratahs 15s squad selection for Reds battle

They are the top 125 U15 rugby youngsters in NSW given the chance to impress in the Gen Next Cup as they chase a spot in their first Waratahs squad. See who made the cut.

Wilson Ruthven from U14 Gen Blue being tackled by Edward Bryant from the U15 Ella team at last year’s Gen Blue Cup for Under 15s and U14s. Picture: John Appleyard

It’s a special list compiled by Waratahs experts identifying youngsters with both talent and potential and with the skills to potentially earn them a spot in their first Tahs squad - and a shot at beating their Queensland Reds opposites next month.

A list of 125 young guns who will be put through their paces in a series of games after being talent spotted at club matches, schools events and the NSW state rugby championships mid year.

For a select number, it could be the start of a journey which potentially could see them represent their state, Academy and country in rugby.

The Next Gen Cup at Camden this weekend, featuring the top 14 and 15 year old rugby union players in the state from city and regional areas, will help select the squad to take on the Reds in an annual two-match battle in October.

The event helps unearth young talent with names like Isaiah Sheck and Justice Taumoepeau playing in both the U14 and U15 age group in recent times.

Manni Campbell eyes the ball at the Next Gen Cup for Under 15s and U14s last year. Picture: John Appleyard

“It’s important. I look at the U16s this year and less than five of the 36 didn’t play at this tournament last year,’’ said Waratahs head of pathways Matt Evrard

“This put them on the road.. The 14 to 15s age is where our identification starts..

“We have them on a list and continually watch them.’’

Waratahs officials have broken down their list of talent into one U14s team and four U15s sides.

The four under 15 teams have been named after famous rugby players from NSW - Team Baxter, Team Ella, Team Waugh and Team Gavin but are not based on clubs, school or regions.

Instead Waratahs Academy staff have chosen them to ensure the best mix of talent in each team, and allow for the best to compete against the best.

Illiyaz Villamu passes the ball in the match between Baxter (Red) and Gavin last year. Picture: John Appleyard

Players in the U15s teams hail from assorted clubs and schools including St Johns Woodlawn, Newington College St Augustine’s College, Shore School, Rutherford Technology, Barker College, St Ignatius College, Waverley College, Evans High School, Lennox Head Trojans, Wanderers Rugby Club Blacktown Scorpions, Dural Junior Rugby Club, Campbelltown Harlequins, Kiama Junior Rugby Club, Avoca, Dubbo Roos Rugby Club, Hills Junior Rugby Club, Parkes Boars Rugby Club, Drummoyne Rugby Club, Emus Rugby Club, Woy Woy Rugby Club and Singleton Rugby Club.

The clubs or schools of the 14s players include St Joseph’s College, Magdalene Catholic, St Ignatius College. Trinity Grammar School, Patrician Bros Blacktown, Hunter Sports High,

Maitland Junior Rugby, Hamilton Hawkes, Collaroy Cougars/Warringah, South Coogee Red Devils, Northlakes Pirates, Scone Brumbies, Ourimbah Razorbacks, Mosman Whales and Kiama, Juniors, Central Coast Sports, Endeavour Sports High, Knox Grammar School, Westfields Sports High, Illawarra Sports High, Hills Sports High School and Holy Cross College, Ryde

Isaiah Ignu Sheck from the U15 Gavin team with the ball at the event last year.

NEXT GEN RUGBY CUP 2024 PLAYER SQUADS

U14s Next Gen Blue Team: Arlo Benjes Lucas Bentham Billy Bowen Urijah Brown Jake Capovilla Sebastian Conna Jack Corbett Malachi Faavae-Eli Deon Haynes Cooper Hayward Cruz Holmes Khan Jackson Thomas Jackson Tevita Mafi Wesley Moala Levi Perrett John Rasiga Leonard Salter Lorima Seuseu Malachi Soane Ezekial Stanley-Ligaiviu Ignatcio Struve Betancourt Iverson Tanuvasa Destin Tausala Mathius Toailoa Abraham Tohme

Team Baxter: Oscar Amituanai Cordell Arama James Boerner Tighe Bond Charlie Briggs Tadhg Carpenter Kai Cauvin Ethan Cooper Eddie Garcia-Wood Finn Hannon Archie Hartman

Max Hill Jake Hutson Dewan Jacobs Ahmed Kassir Kiju Kim Talmage Lemusu Billy Miller

Julian Minto Noah O’Keeffe Riley Paki Solomone Penitani Jack Procter Jack Treak Cooper Butler

Team Ella: Harry Adamo Taylan Barton Henry Baxter Thomas Chan Sam Clarke Moar Levi Ellis Sanele Fakatava Maika Fakatava Phillip Falaniko Oscar Forsey Jake Fourie Cai Garrett

James Gormly Seluki Halangahu Levi Henderson Bailey Logue Tom Longland Sinclair Lyne

Asera Peniata Jack Smith Tom Symons Kaiasi Talakai Payton Tarau Zyron Telfer Lachlan Wallace.

Team Gavin: Chayce Afa Diggy Atkins Thijs Beckett Jake Bergania Lucian Bester Cooper Butler Asher Chapman Kingston Finau Will Gencur William Gleeson Lachlan Kable Hugh MacGregor Archie Marshall Cooper Martin Johnathan Mau Oliver McGarity Hugh McMullen

Atticus Strachan Levi Strong Jayden Suffell Ephrium Tone Rory Tyacke Jonah Van Der Heide

Noah Vaotangi Cooper Williams.

Team Waugh: Ben Barretto Jeremiah Beale Norris Manni Campbell Morgan Carter Makoto Chapman Khaled Elmasri Douglas Fa’aoso Rocco Fava Zac Gedz Hunter Hall Emanuel Higgins Archie Hill Izak Holmes Jayden Richards Wilson Ruthven Siulu Sikahele Jharall Sione Harry Smythe Maximus Solofuti Isaac Street Marlee Thomas Felise Uvea Thomas West

Bryn Wooldridge Charlie Xuerebe

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Originally published as Gen Blue Cup: Best 125 14, 15 year old rugby players, Waratahs 15s squad selection for Reds battle