Top rugby teens tipped as future Wallabies, U16s Super Rugby stats reveal stars, game changers
In the wake of a string of awful international losses by the Wallabies there is still some good news for rugby fans with 16 of Australian teenagers right now identified. Check out the list
In the wake of yet another Wallabies loss - this time to France - we’ve taken a look look at what the future might be like for Australia on the rugby field – and it’s looking Super,
The stats are in at the end of one of the most entertaining Super Rugby Under 16’s series to date in 2025.
Given their dominance for the past four years, it’s no surprise the NSW Waratahs dominate the list of some of the most exciting and talented players moving through the ranks.
But there are plenty of players there from the Queensland Reds – the team the Waratahs beat in the Super Rugby grands final for their fourth successive crown.
And while their stats do not include a grand final appearance, there are also players from Victoria, the Western Force and Brumbies showing they have what it takes to be stars of the future – and hopefully the Wallabies of tomorrow.
Taking in key metrics – tries, points, metres gained and linebreaks, tackles, turnovers won and offloads – a top 16 list of try sensations, entertainers and bollocking defenders has been determined from specific statistics from the Super Rugby U16 tournament. .
TEEN RUGBY STANDOUTS IN AUSTRALIA
1 Asher Chapman WARATAHS: Chapman was the most statistically dominant athlete, leading three categories tracked: tries (11), metres gained (532), and linebreaks (14). He was also 4th in offloads (5) and the second-highest point scorer overall with 55 points
2 Payton Tarau WARATAHS: Top 5 in five categories: tries, points, metres gained, linebreaks and offloads. Tarau led for offloads (7), came in second in both metres gained (510) and linebreaks (11). He tied for second overall in tries (7) and recorded 35 points.
3 Finn Hannon WARATAHS: Top 5 in five categories: tries, points, metres gained, offloads and linebreaks. He ranked 3rd in points (42), 3rd in metres gained (413), 4th in tries (6), and 4th in linebreaks (8). He was also 4th in offloads (5) to be a standout.
4Cayden Cross ACT BRUMBIES: Highest ranked non-NSW player in running categories 4th in metres gained (342) and 5th in linebreak. He contributed 4 tries and 20 points overall despite playing a game less than grand finalists the Waratahs and Reds. He also finished 6th in offloads (4).
5 Sangwani Chinula REDS: Was a consistent contributor across multiple categories, scoring 3 tries, gaining 231m and recording 6 linebreaks. He was also 7th in tackles (51) and 4th in turnovers won (4)
These top five young guns showed exceptional all-round skills by ranking highly in five of the seven available categories across the Super Rugby U16 competition.
Asher Chapman, Payton Tarau, and Finn Hannon are primarily Waratahs backs who dominate attacking statistics like tries, points, and metres gained.
However, they also contributed significantly in linebreaks and offloads to be allround threats.
Sangwani Chinula and Cayden Cross also show fantastic versatility, combining attacking output with a defensive presence.
6 Ben Wright WARATAHS: Top 5 in all four categories: tries, points, metres gained and linebreak – tied for the second-most tries (7), 3rd in linebreaks 10, 4th in Points (35), and 5th in metres gained (266)
7 Charlie Xuereb WARATAHS: Busy and hardworking he played a big role with the Waratahs. He was the competitions top tackler (62), was sixth in metres gained (6th, 237) and second in offloads (6).
7 Cordell Arama NSW WARATAHS Big, tough and hard working he led the way in turnovers (5), was second in offload (6) and 9th in metres gained (215). Made a big impact for the Waratahs.
7 Sione Finau VICTORIA: Like his Brumbies and Force rivals, Victoria only played four games after missing the grand final. Finau still heads the list for turnovers won (5) and was 9th for offloads (4), and 12th for tackles (46).
7 Oliver Henderson: BRUMBIES: Finished 6th in offloads (4), 10th in points (16) and 9th in linebreaks (4) despite the Brumbies not making the decider.
This group includes key players like flyer Wright who was just a smidgen off cracking the top five ranks
The Waratahs again starred here, including Xuereb, the leading tackler and high in offloads, and Arama, who led turnovers won and was high in offloads.
11 Wilson Ruthven WARATAHS: The hottest boot in Super Rugby U16s series. The leading point scorer overall by a significant margin with 86 points. He also made 4 linebreaks.
11 Matti Gill REDS: Tied for the Reds club lead in tries (6) and was the second-highest point scorer for the team with 30 points which pout him in 7th overall on this list.
11 Ihakaraia Toko VICTORIA: This young Victorian was a standout in turnovers won, taking out this category with five. He also made an impact tackling with 58 for third on this list.
11 Cooper Williams WARATAHS: Another who made a big impact for the winning Waratahs. He was fifth in tackles (54) and 10th in metres gained (213).
11 Will Gencur WARATAHS: Another tough guy for the Tahs. He was eighth in tackles (50) and fourth for turnovers won. (4).
11 Johan Oosthuizen WESTERN FORCE: The only talent from across in eh west to make the list. He finished fourth in turnovers and 11th for tackles with 47.
This group did not feature everywhere but when they did they stood out.
For instance Ruthven only appeared in two categories but was a standout with his conversion kicking.
NOTABLE MENTIONS
James Smith REDS: He was 7th in metres gained (233) and 6th in linebreaks (7) for the Queenslanders.
Charlie Meredith REDS: The young fly half led the club in points scored with 31 which ranked him 6th overall in the 2025 competition.
Karter Iva REDS: He scored three tries in one game against the Brumbies and gained 201 metres but has recently signed with an NRL club so may be lost to rugby for a while.
Mitchell Durrheim REDS: He also scored three tries and recorded 5 linebreaks
Ziyon Lepolo WARATAHS: Another with three tries who also scored 4 linebreaks.
SUPER RUGBY TOP STATISTICS
TRIES
Asher Chapman WARATAHS U16 11
Ben Wright WARATAHS U16 7
Payton Tarau WARATAHS U16 7
Finn Hannon WARATAHS U16 6
Matti Gill REDS U16 6
Cayden Cross ACT BRUMBIES U16 4
Asera Peniata WARATAHS U16 3
Ziyon Lepolo WARATAHS U16 3
Karter Iva REDS U16 3
Mitchell Durrheim REDS U16 3
Sangwani Chinula REDS U16 3
POINTS
Wilson Ruthven WARATAHS U16 86
Asher Chapman WARATAHS U16 55
Finn Hannon WARATAHS U16 42
Ben Wright WARATAHS U16 35
Payton Tarau WARATAHS U16 35
Charlie Meredith REDS U16 31
Matti Gill REDS U16 30
Cayden Cross BRUMBIES U16 20
Hamish Ward VICTORIA U16 19
Oliver Henderson BRUMBIES U16 16
METRES GAINED
Asher Chapman WARATAHS U16 532
Payton Tarau WARATAHS U16 510
Finn Hannon WARATAHS U16 413
Cayden Cross BRUMBIES U16 342
Ben Wright WARATAHS U16 266
Charlie Xuereb WARATAHS U16 237
James Smith REDS U16 233
Sangwani Chinula REDS U16 231
Cordell Arama WARATAHS U16 215
Cooper Williams WARATAHS U16 213
Karter Iva REDS U16 201
LINEBREAKS
Asher Chapman WARATAHS U16 14
Payton Tarau WARATAHS U16 11
Ben Wright WARATAHS U16 10
Finn Hannon WARATAHS U16 8
Cayden Cross BRUMBIES U16 7
Seth Chapman REDS U16 7
James Smith U16 6
Sangwani Chinula REDS U16 6
Mitchell Durrheim REDS U16 5
Kyron Arthy REDS U16 5
Wilson Ruthven WARATAHS U16 4
Oliver Henderson BRUMBIES U16 4
Ziyon Lepolo WARATAHS U16 4
OFFLOADS
Payton Tarau WARATAHS U16 7
Cordell Arama WARATAHS U16 6
Charlie Xuereb WARATAHS U16 6
Asher Chapman WARATAHS U16 5
Finn Hannon WARATAHS U16 5
Cayden Cross BRUMBIES U16 4
Oliver Henderson BRUMBIES U16 4
Fraser Boakes REDS U16 4
Sione Finau VICTORIA U16 4
Kalani Onno WESTERN FORCE U16 4
TACKLES
Charlie Xuereb WARATAHS U16 62
Kohen Tavita VICTORIA U16 60
Ihakaraia Toko VICTORIA U16 58
Cooper Leslie BRUMBIES U16 55
Jesse Thorp BRUMBIES U16 54
Cooper Williams NSW WARATAHS U16 54
Sangwani Chinula REDS U16 51
William Bullock BRUMBIES U16 50
Will Gencur WARATAHS U16 50
Lachlan Ilott WESTERN FORCE U16 48
Johan Oosthuizen WESTERN FORCE U16 47
Sione Finau VICTORIA U16 46
TURNOVERS WON
Ihakaraia Toko VICTORIA U16 5
Sione Finau VICTORIA U16 5
Cordell Arama WARATAHS U16 5
Sangwani Chinula REDS U16 4
Will Gencur WARATAHS U16 4
Johan Oosthuizen WESTERN FORCE U16 4
Oscar Sio WESTERN FORCE U16 4
Lachlan Ilott WESTERN FORCE U16 3
Leeson Tiakia WESTERN FORCE U16 3
Dharczy Vaiimene VICTORIA U16 3
Kaleb Matthews BRUMBIES U16 3
Tiaki Turner WESTERN FORCE U16 3
Jeremiah Kite QUEENSLAND REDS U16 3
Kalani Onno WESTERN FORCE U16 3
Kaiasi Talaki WARATAHS U16 3
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Originally published as Top rugby teens tipped as future Wallabies, U16s Super Rugby stats reveal stars, game changers
