YOUNG GUNS: TAS First XV schoolboy rugby Team of the Season
The TAS First XV schoolboy rugby Team of the Season can be revealed following Saturday’s grand final win by St Columban’s College. See the full team here.
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The TAS First XV schoolboy rugby Team of the Season can be revealed following Saturday’s epic grand final triumph by St Columban’s over Ormiston College, a 7-5 thriller won at the death.
Ormiston turned the corner leading 5-0, before a matchwinning try by Seb Booth and the all important conversion that followed by Charley Ogden secured the school’s second successive premiership.
St Columban’s were well represented with five players picked in the starting XV while runners up Ormiston have four.
John Paul College finished in third place following their emphatic 50-8 win over WestMAC on Saturday, while Canterbury College finished in fifth after a 10-0 finals win over CHAC.
This season, Canterbury have had an unsung hero working behind the scenes to help head coach Josh Afu.
Year 8 student James Duffin, who was out injured this season, came on board to help Afu and give up his Saturday’s as the team’s statistics man during First XV games.
“He also gives me a few tips on work ons from the week before,” said Afu.
“An absolute legend.”
TAS RUGBY TEAM OF THE SEASON 2023
TAS RUGBY TEAM OF THE SEASON 2022
So who made the 2024 TAS First XV rugby Team of the Season? Find out below.
TAS RUGBY TEAM OF THE YEAR
15. DJ Gray (John Paul College)
A scintillating game breaking ball carrier who could set up tries or burst through the line like no others in the TAS rugby competition.
A natural athlete, Gray would make a mistake here and there but his mere presence on the field would have given the JPC team plenty of confidence knowing they had a Ferrari ready to rumble in the outside back department.
14. Domsaviyo Filipo (St Columban’s)
Talk about exciting.
This kid has a bit of x-factor, speed and great game sense.
A key player in next year’s side for St Columban’s, Filipo was a right wing threat with great hands, IQ and a physicality about him that was an integral part of St Columban’s premiership winning side.
13. Kingbenjamin Swirling (John Paul College)
A remarkable forward or back, Kingbenjamin Swirling was a colossus with the ball in hand and in defence where he hit hard and stuck to his tackles.
A beast for two seasons of First XV rugby, Swirling was JPC’s prime mover who could score, ball play and kick for touch so talented was he.
12. Akeli Filipo (St Columban’s)
St Columban’s were spearheaded brilliantly this season by nimble inside centre Akeli Filipo, a strongly built athlete with an eye for the tryline.
Filipo, who helped set up Seb Booth’s match winning try in last Saturday’s grand final, was a thilling player who loved the contact and was one of the most dangerous in the competition.
11. Sam West (Ormiston College)
The fleet footed Ormiston ace played fullback but to get the most deadly players in the top team, we moved him to wing where he would do just fine.
A dangerous counter attacking threat, West’s best asset was his footwork - and kick returns his foray, his bread and butter.
The illusive Ormiston senior gave Ormiston a head start and after being the 9/10Bs captain in Year 9, West had a wonderful two year First XV career which finished on a high note last Saturday when he was arguably the best on ground.
10. Renier Welgemoed (Ormiston College)
Was Renier Welgemoed the best midfielder in the competition?
He would have to be close.
The high achieving Ormiston captain with muscle as armour was a quality defender whose physicality and strong ball carrying gave his side punch through the middle of the field.
A capable centre or flyhalf, Welgemoed co-ordinated the attack alongside flyhalf Oliver Sheil and had the class to play brutally or show finesse with his kicking game, which was massive in the grand final.
9. Phoenix Hoareau (St Columban’s)
Sporting a bald head in Saturday’s grand final match, classy scrumhalf Phoenix Hoareau offered the crisp service he had been delivering flyhalf Charley Ogden all season long.
A second year First XV halfback, Hoareau’s experience in trying times and high IQ was a terrific starting point for the visitors to begin their attack.
8. Oliver Rauchle (St Paul’s)
Oliver Rauchle’s St Paul’s side didn’t get the results they were hoping for, but in good and bad times he stood up and delivered.
A talented cricketer who switches spikes for boots when winter rolls around, No.8 Rauchle, a 193cm powerhouse, will spearhead what shapes as a young and less experienced Pumas First XV next season.
7. Joey Hona (Cannon Hill Anglican College)
A standout performer week-in-week-out, Joey Hona was a man for all seasons who got back up every time he made a tackle, just to make another or challenge the breakdown.
With the ball in hand, he did not drop his standards, applying pressure with his carries.
“He was annoyingly good,” joked St Paul’s coach Andrew Thomas.
“He was just in everything.
“One of those annoyingly good blokes that pops up everywhere.”
What a season he had.
6. Kody Fisher (Ormiston)
In the MVP race, Fisher and his wrecking ball inside centre Renier Welgemoed would have crossed the line at the same time.
A superb open side flanker, Fisher’s mud-lathered jersey each Saturday was the prime indicator of all the work he got through on game days.
He was consistent, popping up for Ormisiton when games were in the balance.
5. Nate Levitt (JPC)
When you have a closer look, JPC were just as good as the top two sides, St Columban’s and Ormiston, this season.
Had they beaten WestMAC in the home-and-away season, the finals picture may have been different - but the side should be proud of what they achieved, especially representative lock Levitt, who maintained the rage after last year’s campaign.
A rough and tumble second rower who loves the rough stuff, Levitt spearheaded the JPC forward pack at lineout time and in general play.
4. Toby Parker (St Columban’s)
The inspirational St Columban’s skipper finished a lovely schoolboy rugby career with his second First XV premiership on Saturday.
A strong, mobile ball carrier whose defence was everything in the decider, Parker was a great leader who matched his words with his actions.
3 Tymothy Palupe (Canterbury College)
MVP was a label cut out for Canterbury’s terrific tight-head this season.
There was a question as to who would be the leader after Jack Henry graduated last year, but quick enough Palupe rose above the pack to be that leader.
A defensive menace who moved forward in contact, Palupe began his campaign in mid season form against WestMAC and maintained the rage as his side finished on a high note against St Paul’s.
2. Alby Lyons
Bigger, stronger and more fit than last year, utility forward Alby Lyons rose above and beyond in season 2024 to have an even better campaign than last year.
A breakdown terror who led the charge for his side this season, Lyons threw the ball into the lineout, was a prime mover with the ball and seemed to produce big plays when his team needed it.
1. Charlie Pickering (WestMAC)
Rounding out a bumper First XV is WestMAC’s hooker Charlie Pickering, who could play prop, lock or flanker effectively.
The Year 11 student led the way with his work rate around the paddock, aggression at the breakdown and physicality and willingness on defence.
The Norths Tigers rugby league junior did the calling at lineout time and was the No.1 jumper as well.
Remarkable.
BENCH
16. Ashton Snell (Ormiston)
Ormiston’s hooker Ashton Snell missed out on the starting XV by width of a tissue paper but we expect he will have a spot there next season when he will lead the way at prop.
A Year 11 student, Snell was better this season for experience gained in a couple cameos off the bench last year as a flanker and despite wearing No.2 on his back, he proved a mighty pest for the opposition at breakdown time.
17. Heath Harms (St Columban’s)
Wow! what a schoolboy career Harms had.
A two time premiership winner, Harms was a key cog in St Columban’s forward pack over the last two seasons and in the grand final produced an epic effort to inspire his side to victory.
The Year 12 student played No.8 and while being big and strong, had plenty of mobility and got around the paddock like an outside back.
18 Harrison Dhu (Ormiston College)
Ahston Snell’s front row buddy Harrison Dhu rose above and beyond this season at tight-head after helping the side to last year’s grand final.
A big boy who just kept ploughing on, Dhu was supreme in pick and drive play and was magnificent in the set piece.
19. Ma’afu Takai (Canterbury College)
Canterbury finished the season with three straight victories and open side flanker Ma’afu Takai played a huge role in that resurrection.
A toiler, Takai has the aggression, game IQ and soft hands to be a destructive breakaway against the best sides in the competition and he could play almost anywhere in the forward pack.
20. Lachie Greer (St Paul’s)
A courageous flyhalf, St Paul’s playmaker Lachie Greer worked his tail off and played every game despite being hurt.
Greer was a tenacious type who coach Andrew Thomas had plenty of praise for.
21. Harry McDowell (WestMAC)
Big improvers WestMAC had a stellar season which saw their First XV defeat Canterbury and draw with JPC, who went on to beat Ormiston in round seven.
At the centre of their success was sniping scrumhalf Harry McDowell who provided his flyhalf with incredible service all season.
To be one of two halfbacks chosen in this team however, you needed to do more than pass.
Year 11 student McDowell excelled in this area, with his box kicking superior to all in the competition.
His goal kicking was also very impressive, applying scoreboard pressure onto the opposition.
22. Isaac Mellish (CHAC)
CHAC’s flyhalf Isaac Mellish quietly had a ripping season, he just didn’t have many opportunities.
With the ball often in the opposition’s hands, Mellish, a great organiser and leader, defended more than attacked at times.
With the ball in hand, CHAC’s vice-captain was top notch.
23. Charlie Menzies (Canterbury College)
Canterbury’s midfield mastermind, Charlie Menzies was a powerful runner who got his side over the advantage line.
While it took the Canterbury First XV a game or two to warm up, Tasmanian boy Menzies should hold his head high after a terrific season of damaging line running at inside centre.
PLAYERS WE WOULD HAVE LOVED TO HAVE IN THE SIDE
George Hobbs (Ormiston)
Ormiston had class and finishing finesse with George Hobbs, the younger brother of premiership winning playmaker Hugo and Michael Herrmannsen manning each edge.
Herrmannsen had a steady season in his second year of First XV footy, while left wing Hobbs burst onto the scene as a senior and impressed - continuing Ormiston’s tradition of gutsy wingers following on from the likes of Dylan Penniket and Jack Johnston.
Jack Grant (CHAC)
A fearless competitor, the CHAC flanker left nothing in the tank.
A breakaway who gave 110 per cent, Grant would have been in or on the cusp of the 3-2-1 votes each week such was his willingness to do the dirty work others don’t want to.
Liam Payne (St Paul’s)
He was only just beaten to the finish line but what a schoolboy career Liam Payne had.
Arguably the most gifted in the competition, Payne was so elusive with a turn of speed that turned heads.
UNSUNG HEROES
Charlie Gardiner (CHAC)
The Year 11 lock was good in round one, better in round two and great in round three.
You get the gist, he was a huge improver across the season who stepped up to every challenge.
CHAC coach Rohan Dooley said he was one of the easiest kids he has ever coached.
Riley Lynch (Canterbury)
Another Year 11 student who rose to the occasion this season, Canterbury winger Riley Lynch changed his mindset from a halfback to an edge finisher where he did a cracking defensive job.
An undersized utility who punches well above his weight, Lynch made all the right decisions on when to jam on defence and when to stay on his wing.
It would be surprising if he missed a tackle on the wing this season.
Jr Marges (St Paul’s)
If Marges could move a mountain for the Pumas he would.
A scrumhalf, Marges played with a bunged shoulder for the final three games of the season and “always put in” according to coach Andrew Thomas.
He was a threat around the breakdown as well.
Hamish Campbell (St Paul’s)
It wasn’t the season Hamish Campbell and his Pumas set out for but when the going got tough the tough blindside flanker put his hand up and kept going.
He is a bloke who knew his job back to front and the output stayed the same whether he played at lock or in the back row.
Lachlan North (St Columban’s)
Lachlan North’s grand final performance was enough to get him in the side. Seriously, he played that good.
Year 11 student North burst onto the scene after missing the opening two rounds with injury, the youngster having a consistent season winning the ball at the breakdowns and getting his side over the advantage line.
He will be a huge threat in 2025.
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