Eight Queensland rugby rookies have been picked in the Australian Under-16s squad
A Reds-signed schoolboy who made an impression in the Super Rugby Under-16s competition has been named in the Australian U16s squad, alongside seven other Queenslanders. More here on who was picked and why.
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Eight tone-setting Queensland rugby rookies have been rewarded for their fine form and startling potential by gaining selection in an elite 25-man Australia Rugby Under-16s squad.
The squad, named following the Super Rugby Under-16s season, will assemble in Blacktown on December 7, with the week-long camp ending in a bout against the New South Wales Waratahs Under-17s.
No. 8 Agapetos Lote-Felo, halfback Alfie Bowman, props Harrison Asi and Sio Kite, lock Jack Calleja, hooker William Adrian De Klerk, outside back Hemi Rakuita and outside centre Tai Taka have made the cut after impressive campaigns representing grand finalists Queensland Reds Under-16s.
It is particularly the case for Taka who has been signed to the Reds Academy after a high-class First XV season with BBC and a strong campaign with the under-16s where he hit hard in defence and made things happen in attack.
They are names you simply have to remember if you are a rugby enthusiast. And if you are not.
Last year the likes of Bennett Armistead, Berakah Tuifaasisina, Kiama Jione, Kingsley Uys, Liam Robinson, Will Ross, Finn Mackay and Treyvon Pritchard were picked from the Sunshine State.
The fertile rugby breeding grounds of Queensland were again highlighted this year with the selection of a super eight players that stood out from the crowd in the Super Rugby competition.
Mountainous tighthead Kite, a Year 10 student at Churchie who tips the scales at 147kg and stands tall at 204cm, is already big enough to compete as a prop in the Super Rugby Pacific and he has the engine to do so.
Playing in the GPS First XV rugby competition as a 15-year-old, Kite played all eight matches and did not miss a single minute across the season.
He did not once come off and when you see him at Ballymore Stadium training alongside the Reds’ Super squad, he blends in like one of them.
While he is built perfectly to be a battering-ram forward, Churchie First XV coach Andrew Brownhill used him as more of a playmaker.
“His hands are just as good as any of the backs,” Brownhill said.
Halfback Bowman, a Year 11 student at Churchie, left his mark in the First XV when he got his chance with Hugh Rylance out injured.
Bowman’s booming box kicking and accurate passing lifted Churchie when the going got tough, either on their tryline or in the final moments of the game.
“His pass never drops off. It’s just as crisp in the first as it is in the last,” Brownhill said.
“It’s rare you get kids his age where the best part of their game is box kicking. His box kick is humungous.
“His ability to read the game and arrival time at the ruck is excellent.
From Ipswich Grammar, two promising Year 10 students were selected in utility back Rakuita and lock Calleja.
It was a full circle moment for Ipswich Grammar director of rugby Russell Todd seeing Calleja leave his mark for the Reds and earn national selection after coaching him as a young No.8 in Innisfail half a decade ago.
Calleja, an award-winning academic in the classroom, was always a big, physical, and smart between the ears forward who Todd said had a natural aptitude for the game early.
The 15-year-old was once winning lineouts for a combined Innisfail Vikings and Cairns Mudcrabs team and he had the same tendencies stealing opposition lineouts for the Reds.
“It’s special to see him doing well,” Todd said.
The imposing 200cm “ genius” from the country is shaping up to be a frightening prospect when he starts Year 12 in 2026.
Calleja’s schoolmate, Fijian flyer Hemi Rakuita, also made the squad after being one of Queensland’s supreme finishers.
A student at Ipswich Grammar since prep, Rakuita, 16, used his track and field background to run in tries for the Reds, like his impressive grand final try where he had little to no room to move in the left corner with defenders rushing at him.
The quick off the mark Sunnybank junior can cover positions 10-15.
Down the coast, humble No. 8 Agapetos Lote-Felo was carving out a name for himself.
The captain of the Reds Under-16s, Lote-Felo led the charge with his actions after a strong campaign in The Southport School’s First XV.
He is another high achiever in the classroom who has great attention to detail.
“He is an As across the board student with high self discipline. He is that kid,” TSS rugby director Mike Wallace said.
“He is what I would call an influencer. He influences those around him in a positive fashion (both on and off the field).”
From the Sunshine Coast Grammar School, hooker William Adrian De Klerk was selected and from Brisbane Boys’ College Tai Taka (outside centre) and Harrison Asi (prop) also made the squad.
De Klerk is an elite lineout thrower whose toughness and workrate impressed Reds coach Welmar du Plessis throughout the campaign.
The stoic defence, offloading and positional awareness of fellow Sunshine Coast product Tai Taka was also a standout.
As was the pick-and-drive play and strong scrummaging of Taka’s BBC schoolmate Asi.
Australia U16 Squad
Agapetos Lote-Felo (QLD Reds, The Southport School, Gold Coast Eagles)
Aidan Wunsch (ACT Brumbies, Daramalan College)
Alfie Bowman (QLD Reds, Anglican Church Grammar School)
Aston Weir (NSW Waratahs, The Scots College, Eastern Suburbs Rugby Club)
Bareek Kleine-Deters Ausage (Western Force, Byford Secondary College)
Chase Bunce (Western Force, St Mark’s Anglican Community School)
Creighton Meafou (NSW Waratahs, Edmund Rice College, Randwick Warriors)
Cyrus Bloomfield (NSW Waratahs, Oakhill College, Dural Rugby Club)
Darcy Feltham (NSW Waratahs, Oakhill College, Hills Junior Rugby Club)
Halaliku Lauhingoa (Melbourne Rebels, The Grange Secondary College)
Harrison Asi (QLD Reds, Brisbane Boys College)
Harry Whitaker (NSW Waratahs, Newington College, Randwick Warriors)
Hasani Bloomfield (NSW Waratahs, The King’s School, Hills Junior Rugby Club)
Hemi Rakuita (QLD Reds, Ipswich Grammar School)
Jack Calleja (QLD Reds, Ipswich Grammar School)
Jarryd King (NSW Waratahs, Newington College, Randwick Warriors)
Justice Taumoepeau (NSW Waratahs, St Joseph’s College, Oatley Junior Rugby Club)
Nicholas Kotarac (NSW Waratahs, Knox Grammar School, Wahroonga Tigers)
Oliver Smith (NSW Waratahs, The King’s School, Norths Pirates Rugby Club)
Selesitino Mainakavika (NSW Waratahs, St Johns College Dubbo, Dubbo Junior Rugby Club)
Tahj Smith (NSW Waratahs, Barker College, Central Eastwood)
Taione Taka (QLD Reds, Brisbane Boys College, Wests Rugby Club)
Talen Risati (NSW Waratahs, The King’s School, Dural Rugby Club)
Visesio Kite (QLD Reds, Anglican Church Grammar School)
William Adrian De Klerk (QLD Reds, Sunshine Coast Grammar School)
Unavailable for selection due to other Rugby commitments:
Flynn Farrell (NSW Waratahs, Oakhill College, Blacktown Scorpions)
Rohan Nichol (QLD Reds, Sunshine Coast Grammar School)
Sam Polley (NSW Waratahs, Oakhill College, Blacktown Scorpions)
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