Sydney Uni teens, debutants among stars of Australian Club Rugby championship win

Sydney Uni debuted a mad mix of former schoolboy rugby stars, teenagers, brothers and a couple of old heads at the Australian club rugby championships. So how did they go?

Young rugby gun Jullien Caillol playing in a Waratahs Academy game last year.

Sydney Uni debuted a mad mix of schoolboy rugby stars, teenagers, brothers and a couple of old heads at the Australian club rugby championships in Brisbane on Saturday and the unusual combination came up trumps.

Boasting just six players from the side which won last year’s Shute Shield, the new-look students raced off with a 45-19 victory courtesy of a sensational second half against their Queensland opposites Wests.

And upfront and centre were two youngsters who were ripping it up in schoolboy rugby less than a year ago in teen debutants Joey Fowler and Jullien Caillol. along with two sets of brothers in the Northern Beaches’ Zac and Max Von Appen and Luke and Jacob Ratcliff.

In all, six players made their first grade debuts for the students, including tryscorers Rod Hedderman and Max von Appen.

Sydney University’s head of coaching Nick Ryan was delighted with the performance of his charges and encouraging signs for the future.

Young rugby gun Jullien Caillol playing in a match against the Waratahs Academy last year.

“I think after today many of them have shown they are more than capable of playing at this level,’’ he said. “We are keen to built a new nucleus at the club.

Ryan said Fowler, 17, and originally from Narrabri, was one of the standouts along with inside centre Caillol, just 18.

“Seventeen of our 23 from last year’s gran final weren’t there and I could not fault their effort today,’’ he said.

“The young brothers did well.

“I thought Sione Taufui was very strong and a great ball carrier, I thought Luke Ratcliff had a strong game, I thought Mali (Manukia), had a really high workrate.

Joey Fowler, playing for the Waratahs Academy last year, was a standout for Sydney University.

“I like the way we stuck at it and worked hard. They showed good character and fitness.’’

Try scorers for the Students were Hedderman, Caillol, Zac Von Appen, Brad Amituanai, Eddie Kingi, Manukia and Max Von Appen also going over.

In the earlier match, super fast teenager Dianne Waight starred for Bond University in their rousing come from behind 29–24 victory over Sydney club side Gordon.

A standout for the Queensland side. Waight sealed the deal for Bond University with a third try late in the game.

Waight is just 18 and has been turning heads for some time in Rugby Sevens.

The match mark the time first time women have played in the Australian club championships.

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Originally published as Sydney Uni teens, debutants among stars of Australian Club Rugby championship win