Two Marist College Ashgrove graduates have been selected to face Argentina in Australia’s Oceania U20 Championship opener
Two brilliant young rugby union prospects bred from the same grounds as Wallaby great John Eales have been selected in the Junior Wallabies team. GET TO KNOW THEM
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The journey started three years ago when two wide-eyed Year 11’s gained selection in the Marist College Ashgrove First XV schoolboy rugby team.
With a superb 7-0 run to one of the most convincing premiership successes in recent times, Ashgrove dominated with flair and power from the two 16-year-olds.
The powerfully framed flanker Nick Baker and fullback Floyd Aubrey, with touches of Kurtley Beale magic, led the way in that AIC competition.
On friday, the pair will suit up in gold for the Junior Wallabies when they take on Argentina at Sunshine Coast Stadium (7:00 pm AEST) in the Under-20 Championship opener.
Aubrey said he was most excited to be back playing, having trained with the Queensland Reds all year and narrowly missing minutes when on the bench for one game.
He will run alongside one of his closest friends, Baker. The pair rose through the ranks playing juniors, Colts 1 at the GPS club, school and representative footy together since they were 14.
“It’s pretty mad aye, I grew up playing footy with him. Now we are playing at the highest level together. It’s amazing,” Aubrey said.
Aubrey said the Junior Wallabies training camp in Longreach allowed the boys to take a step back and look at life without footy, “ It was good to get away from footy for a bit and connect back to our country.”
Ahead of Aubrey’s Friday night showcase in the No.11 jersey, he said he was keen to show everyone he can play and “put money where my mouth is.”
“They’ve all heard everything, I just want to show it. I honestly just want to play footy. It’s been a long time. I am so keen to get back out on the pitch,” Aubrey said.
Aubrey will be joined at the back by fellow Reds player Mac Grealy.
“We’ve got that connection. I have learned a lot from him. I’ve been learning off (Reds halfback) Kalani Thomas as well. He’s a smart footy player.”
It means just as much for Baker to be running out on Friday, having had surgeries on both his hamstring and ankle since 2020.
“I’ve had my share, and the person next to me’s share, of injuries.”
“ I sat down a couple years ago and thought of what I wanted to achieve. Wearing this jersey was one of the goals,” Baker said.
“I like the competitive feeling knowing there are other boys in my position from Queensland and other states that are as good if not better than me. So I have to work even harder.”
Baker said he has rewatched the Junior Wallabies World Championship games of 2019 multiple times.
“I want to follow in Fraser McReight and Harry Wilson’s footsteps and achieve the things they have (as Reds and Wallabies), but my playing style is completely different to them. I want to write my own legacy,” Baker said.
“It’s a great checkpoint (being in the Junior Wallabies) knowing I am up there with the best in the country. It gives me confidence, especially to do it with Aubrey. We complement each other well.”
See the team here.
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