Future Wallabies: Who are the Australia Under-18s rugby top guns gearing up for a two game tour of New Zealand? Here is an insight into the 26-man squad
Wallaby futures: They are the finest rugby rookies in the nation and have every chance of taming their trans-Tasman foes when the Australian U18s butt horns with two Kiwi teams this week. Read an insight into the high class 26-man squad here ahead of Wednesday’s blockbuster across the ditch.
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The son of a former Wallaby flanker will captain the Australian under-18s rugby team set for a two-match tour of New Zealand.
Tom Robinson, son of 16-Test Wallaby Brett, has been honoured with the captaincy duties ahead of Wednesday’s clash against the New Zealand Barbarians at St Paul’s Collegiate School in Hamilton.
The Australian under-18s will then take on the New Zealand Schools at FMG Stadium in the same city on October 6.
“He (Tom) is very knowledgeable and his temperament is very calm,” coach Shannon Fraser said.
“He gets a response from his peers so we look forward to him leading the group.”
After all, Robinson was the Gregory Terrace school captain last year.
He will spearhead this exciting young brigade of rugby rookies in the backrow alongside Brisbane State High School forward leader Eli Langi.
The mobile big man captained the BSHS First XV to a grand final decider against eventual premiers Nudgee College in Queensland’s GPS competition and has maintained the rage rubbing shoulders with the best of the best.
“Eli Langi has excited me since coming into camp,” said Fraser.
“I think Eli Langi and Tom Robinson in the backrow are two very smart footballers. I am really looking forward to see how they contribute to the team.”
It is a team with power, finesse and plenty of speed. Below is an insight into the 26 man squad sure to ruffle some feathers across the Tasman.
AUSTRALIA U18S SQUAD FOR NEW ZEALAND TOUR
Angus Grover - St Ignatius College, Riverview
A terrier, Grover will play halfback in this team and is one of 11 17-year-olds picked in this side.
There was fierce internal competition for this position and Grover’s decisive decision making skills and IQ would have caught the eye of selectors.
He is a threat running the ball, passing and kicking.
Avery Thomson - GPS Rugby Club
A big bodied lock or flanker, Thomson had a stop-start crack at club rugby this season with GPS but when he was on the field, the Gallopers were formidable in the forward pack.
A Brisbane Boys’ College alumni, Thomson has towering height and upsize.
Edwin Langi - Eastern Suburbs
A King’s College old boy, Langi will feature at tighthead prop after playing a big role in Eastern Suburbs’ premiership pursuit this season in colts.
The big bodied 128kg wrecking ball also featured in first grade where he maintained a high standard at scrum time.
Eli Langi - Brisbane State High School
The heart and soul of Brisbane State High’s First XV, Langi has been a revelation this year at lock or flanker.
The mobile Langi does the little things well and is a natural leader from the Sunnybank Dragons.
Ewald Kruger - GPS Rugby Club
A multisport athlete from Toowoomba Grammar School, Kruger was an incredible spin bowling cricketer who just so happens to be an elite hooker in rugby.
Kruger was Mr Consistent for the GPS Colts 1 side this year, which followed Reds Under-18s selection, Australian Under-16s selection (2022) and a bumper Super Rugby under-16s campaign in 2022.
Finn Mackay - St Laurence’s College
The boom St Laurence’s College flyhalf announced himself in last year’s Super Rugby under-16s competition where he was arguably the best territorial kicker going around.
A classy customer who kicks goals in his sleep, Mackay made the Australia Under-16s side last year so he will be in the mix for this team again next year provided he stays healthy.
The team will be in safe hands with the masterful Mackay and Jonty Fowler directing traffic.
Frankie Goldsbrough - Easts Rugby Club
Money cannot buy the wealth of experience Queensland Reds-signed outside back Frankie Goldsbrough has been exposed to over the last 12 months.
The Churchie old boy has taken his game up a level in the Reds Academy teams and in the Australian under-20s.
The emerging midfielder adds power and precision to this squad.
Hayden Lavercombe - The King’s School
The King’s senior will feature at loosehead prop where his scrummaging will be to the fore.
Mobile around the field with a high workrate, Lavercombe adds plenty of starch to this imposing tight five.
Heamasi Makasini - Newington College
A promising outside back, Makasini is in Year 11 and yet he is one of the biggest backs in this squad.
The powerful winger was named 2024 Harold Matthews Cup Player of the Series earlier this year after a big season for the Wests Magpies rugby league under-17s.
He even featured in the Jersey Flegg Cup, an under-21 competition.
Heinz Lemoto - The Scots College
Rip-and-tear backrower or inside centre Heinz Lemoto put a down payment on the No.8 jersey when he scorched in last week’s internal trials.
He scored an eye-catching long distance try and his dynamic ballcarrying off the lineout or scrum adds another dimension to the team’s attack.
Isaac Fonua - The King’s School
A Year 11 student at The King’s School, Fonua is a quick-between-the ears-lock who could play flanker if needed.
A tall 194cm, Fonua wins his collisions and makes a living at the set-piece.
The 17-year-old just gets rugby.
John Grenfell - Nudgee College
A high class Central Queensland enforcer who honed his skills at the Cap Coast Crocs before making an impression in the Nudgee rugby program, Grenfell would have been among the first chosen in this team.
A hooker who moves like a backrower, Grenfell was an inspirational figure in the front row this season leading Nudgee College to their third successive GPS First XV rugby premiership.
He is a revered leader who backs up his words with his actions.
Jonah Rangiwai - The Southport School
An expert scrummager, prop Rangiwai will be in charge of pushing the Kiwi’s back at scrumtime.
He is coming off a fine GPS rugby campaign with The Southport School and is handful to bring down when he takes the ball forward.
Jonty Fowler - St Joseph’s College
There’s plenty to like about St Joseph’s College playmaker Jonty Fowler and his older brother for that matter.
His older brother Joey, a ‘Tahs academy player, has left his impression in the sky blue jersey in years past and the vision of Jonty will be made evident at some stage on this tour.
Jonty is a triple threat whose tactical kicking could bring to life his damaging outside back division.
Josh Takai - Brothers Rugby Club
The 18-year-old Brothers midfielder has a bit of everything up his sleeve but watch for his footwork around the collision.
A proud Brisbane State High product, Takai will also feature in the Reds Under-19s side gearing up for the Super Rugby tournament.
Kingsley Uys - The Southport School
A young giant, Kingsley Uys is the Year 11 The Southport School prop powerhouse waiting in the Reds’ wings.
Signed by the club, Uys has proven he is a worthy investment with his scrummaging ability, soft hands for a big man and quick feet.
Do yourself a favour and watch his highlights.
Luca Cleverley - Newington College
A rough-and-tumble backrower from Newington College, Cleverley will look to use his physicality and aggression to make a dent during this campaign.
Ultra-valuable around the collision, Cleverly’s power and fearless attitude will go along way in helping the side topple their rivals.
Nick Conway - Nudgee College
Signed to an Academy contract with the Queensland Reds, Conway has an uncanny ability to beat his first defender.
He moves laterally like he weights virtually nothing, but is no mug on the defensive end.
The fullback, wing or outside centre has been a classy and highly important player in Nudgee College’s last two premiership seasons in Queensland’s GPS competition.
Nick Hill - Barker College
A tighthead or loosehead prop, Hill is at his best with the ball in hand.
His low body height running the ball is worth noting and his ability to play both prop positions, win scrum penalties and make inroads in attack earnt him a spot in this hotly contested squad.
Rex Bassingthwaighte - The Shore School
A Mr Natural, confident outside back Rex Bassingthwaighte has plenty of hype but there is means for more.
The Shore School sensation was the biggest snub from the Australian Scholboys rugby league side named earlier this year but he has got his redemption by being named here.
The wing or fullback excels in both codes where his raw speed, off the mark acceleration and smart positioning out wide are trademarks of his strong attacking game.
Few have had a more impressive 2024 campaign than long-time Waratahs academy player and Dubbo junior Bassingthwaighte who last year made the Australian Under-16s team.
Sam Blank - St Augustine’s College
Blank, who is not dissimilar to Angus Grover, pipped quality Coast scrumhalf Tom Goldie to make this team.
That is not an easy job and his elite kicking and running game compliments his acurrate passing well.
He is not the only Blank representing his family and friends overseas. Twin brother Charlie, a flanker, is in Fiji touring with the Australian Schoolboys team.
TJ Talaileva - Barker College
The athletic backrower from Barker College played a big role in his school’s First XV premiership and alongside blokes like Makasini and Lemoto, the Australians possess plenty of attacking strike.
Powerful and nimble on his feet, Talaileva is in his element lurking in the wider channels where he can prove destructive.
Tom Howard - Marist College Ashgrove
A fleet-footed customer with spiders on him at times, Howard has capped off a big year spearheading Marist College Ashgrove’s open rugby and league teams from his preferred position of fullback.
Howard’s vision, footwork and positional awareness is to the fore when playing fullback but the young gun first played AIC First XV rugby on the wing as a Year 10 student.
The following year he showed his versatility playing well at outside centre before this year moving back into fullback.
Early on in his career, Howard was a flyhalf.
He is the full package, with x-factor.
Tom Robinson - UQ Rugby Club
The standout player of last week’s round-robin internal trial matches in Canberra, utility forward Tom Robinson is a player of considerable potential.
He hails from rugby stronghold Gregory Terrace and is a natural leader.
While he is known to lead well with his words, it was his actions last week spearheading his forward pack that demanded a spot in this company as skipper.
He is technically sound.
Will Ross - Padua College
A project player, Ross is tall, powerful and on a steady incline.
He has been getting better and better over the past 12-24 months, culminating in a starring role for Padua College’s AIC First XV premiership team.
The Brothers rugby club young gun has made this side as a Year 11 student.
Zach Fittler - The Scots College
A son of a gun from Scots College, Fittler sent the rugby world into orbit this time two years ago when he produced a barnstorming try playing for the New South Wales Waratahs Under-16s side.
The powerful outside back has been progressing nicely since then and is light on his feet.
The Waratahs have invested in the son of rugby league legend Brad Fitler who burst onto the scene as a teenager himself.
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