Australian Schools Rugby championships: NSW, Queensland, ACT favourites, team lists, schedule

NSW and Queensland are early picks but there’s another team or two capable of causing a major upset at the Australian Schools rugby championships in Sydney this week. Team lists, schedule.

NSW's Jay Ingleton in the match against Queensland II om day one. Pic: John Appleyard

The usual suspects in NSW and Queensland teams are expected to dominate this week’s Australian Schools rugby championships in Sydney but according to one insider there is plenty of room for upsets and surprises.

NSW I beat Queensland 1 the last time the championships were played in 2019 and NSW II in 2018. A year earlier ACT won from Queensland II.

NSW I head coach Mark O’Brien said with most of the teams sight unseen in recent times due to Covid in 2020 and 2021, the championship silverware is up for grabs by any number of sides.

DAY ONE WRAP AND PHOTO SPECIAL

Phil Talieleva played for Country in recent trials and will be at the Australian championships.

And while he has identified the NSW and the Queensland I and II sides as the likely teams to beat at the event, he said there is plenty of room for a team to write a different storyline at the tournament starting Wednesday at Knox.

Country's Ben Park with the ball at recent trials.

“You would have to throw the ACT in there as well. Unlike us and Queensland, they are bringing just one side so they are not diluted across two teams,’’ he said.

“I wouldn’t be writing them off, anyone really.

“The Barbarians, you never know what they will throw at us, NSW juniors are a combo of Sydney and Country players who are all Colts and they will bring a challenge. And Victoria, we’re interested to see them.

“There is a bit of the unknown. All we know is we have to hit the ground running with our first eyes on our potential opponents just watching them on the first day.’’

O’Brien said teams will need to produce from the start of the tournament to be vying for victory at the end.

“It will be hard to get to the finals,’’ he said. “I don’t think anyone has an easy team.’’

“There’s two games and then its into finals. You will have to win both games.’’

Teams in the open sevens competition are ACT, NSWSRU A, NSWSRU B and Queensland Invitational.

In the 16s the competition will be contested by NSWJRU A, NSWJRU B and Queensland Invitational.

At the end of the event ASRU Boys Australia A and ASRU 7’s Girls Merit Teams will be named.

Will Perkins playing for GPS in a trial match.

Team lists, schedule subject to change

SCHEDULE

DAY 1: WEDNESDAY

10am Game 1 – Boys VIC v NSWBB

11:30am Game 2 – Boys ACT v NSWJRU

13:00 Game 3 – Boys QLD I v NSW II

14:30 Game 4 – Boys NSW 1 V QLD II

DAY 2 – THURSDAY

9:40 #1 U16 Girls NSWJRU Grey v QLD Invitational

10:00 #2 Open Girls NSWSRU A v ACT

10:20 #3 Open Girls NSWSRU B v QLD

10:40 #4 U16 Girls NSWJRU Grey v NSWJRU

11:00 #5 Open Girls NSWSRU B v ACT

11:20 #6 Open Girls NSWSRU A v QLD

11:40 #7 Open Girls NSWJRU Blue v Qld Invitational

12:30 Game 5 – BoysLoser 1 (VIC) v Loser 3 (QLD 1)

14:00 Game 6 – BoysLoser 2 NSW JUNIORS) v Loser 4 (QLD 2)

15:30 Game 7 – BoysWinner 1 (NSW BARBARIANS) v Winner 3 (NSW 2)

17:00 Game 8 – BoysWinner 2 (ACT) v Winner 4 NSW 1).

DAY 3 – FRIDAY

9:30 #8 U16 Girls NSWJRU Grey v QLD Invitational

10:00 #9 Open Girls NSWSRU A v NSWSRU B

10:30 #10 Open Girls ACT v QLD

11:00 #11 U16 Girls NSWJRU Blue v NSWJRU Grey

11:30 #12 Open Girls NSWSRU B v QLD

12:00 #13 Open Girls NSWSRU A v ACT

12:30 #14 U16 Girls NSWJRU Blue v Qld Invitational

13:00 #15 Open Girls ACT v QLD

13:30 #16 U16 Girls NSWJRU Blue v NSWJRU Grey

14:00 #17 Open Girls NSWSRU B v NSWSRU A

14:30 #18 U16 Girls NSWJRU Grey v Qld Invitational

15:00 #19 Open Girls NSWSRU B v ACT

15:30 #19 Open Girls NSWSRU A v QLD

16:00 #20 U16 Girls NSWJRU Blue v Qld Invitational

DAY 4 – SATURDAY

9am Game 9 – Boys Loser 5 v Loser 6

10:10am #19 U16 Girls Sevens NSWSRU A v Qld

10:35am Game 10 - Boys Winner 5 v Winner 6

11:45am #20 Open Girls Sevens Final 3 v 4

12:10 Game 11 – Boys Loser 7 v Loser 8

13:20 #21 Open Girls Sevens Championship Final – 1 v 2

13:45 Game 12 – Boys Championship Final – Winner 7 v Winner 8

15:30 Boy & Girls Championship and Award presentations

ISA1's Riley Langfield tackled by GPS1's Jullien Cailloli in a trial match recently. .

AUSTRALIAN SCHOOLS RUGBY TEAM SHEETS

NSW I TEAM

1 Will McKinnon Knox Grammar School, 2 Jamie Donavan Oakhill College, 3 Will Goddard Knox Grammar School, 4 Sebastian Bush NBSC- Balgowlah Boys Campus, 5 Will Taylor St Stanislaus College, 6 Tim Sekel St Ignatius College Riverview, 7 Harry Davis The Scots College, 8 Harry Darling - St Joseph’s College Hunters Hill, 9 Nick Lamming St Ignatius College Riverview, 10 Manus Bailey St Aloysius’ College, 11 Will Perkins St Ignatius College Riverview, 12 Leo Bassingthwaighte Shore School, 13 Jullien Caillol St Ignatius College Riverview, 14 James Kotis The Scots College. 15 Riley Langfield St Stanislaus College, 16 Cameron Johns Shore School, 17 Ky Pule Waverley College, 18 Kaleb Ah-Colt Cranbrook School, 19 Quinn Dickinson St Joseph’s College Hunters Hill, 20 Johnathan Ryan Knox Grammar, 21 Orly Hatton-Ward Trinity Grammar, 22 Jay Ingleton Oakhill College, 23 Eli Sagala Barker College.

GPS2's Austin Durbidge gets the ball away to teammate Darcy Fogarty in recent trials. .

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NSW II TEAM

1 Jonathan Wehbe Oakhill College, 2 Sam Bourgeois Knox Grammar School, 3 Isaiah Kolopeaua Ashfield Boys High School, 4 Charles Cooper St Ignatius College Riverview, 5 Angus Hayman Cranbrook School, 6 Darcy Fogarty St Joseph’s College Hunters Hill, 7 Keenan Ewings Kirrawee HS, 8 Arnie Tancred Kinross Wolaroi School, 9 TJ Herring Northern Beaches Secondary College - Balgowlah Boys Campus, 10 Thomas Davey Knox Grammar School, Brogan M’crystal St Augustine’s College, 12 Rory Morgan Northern Beaches Secondary College Balgowlah Boys Campus, Max Threlkeld St Ignatius College Riverview, Solomon Tuqiri Waverley College, Zac Sarfati Randwick Boys High School, Callum Dunn Leeton High School, Jasper Jarvis The Scots College, Paul Vaokakala Pittwater House, 19 Aiden O’Neill Knox Grammar School, 20 Liam Toole St Augustine’s College, Hunter Raymond Knox Grammar School, Brendan Palmer St. Francis Xavier College Hamilton, 23 Tino Tavana Waverley College.

Coach: Matt Crawford Kincumber HS, Assistant Coach: Matthew Hopkins Kincumber HS, Team Manager: Jed Peisley Kempsey HS

CHS's Isaiah Kolopeaua with the ball.

NSWJRU XV TEAM

1 Metui Sela Niu Havea Fuka - Randwick, 2 Freddie Toone - Eastern Suburbs, 3 Stirling Munsie - New England, 4 Rodney Blake - Southern Districts, 5 Jack Tierney - WS Two Blues, 6 William Hopper - Gordon, 7 Kai Roberts - Sydney University, 8 Phil Talieleva - Hunter, 9 Joe Hutton - Gordon, 10 Paita Dellacruz - Gordon, 11 Nepote Taufa - West Harbour

12 Jack Donaghey - Manly, 13 Samu Tuisau - West Harbour, 14 Charlie Sorovi -Eastwood

15 Jackson Lill - Warringah, 16 Jack Headley - Southern Districts, 17 Nathanael Stanley - WS Two Blues, 18 Oscar Ortalani - Sydney University, 19 James Vorster - Eastwood, 20 Jack Cesare - Southern Districts, 21 Tyla O’Brien - Illawarra, 22 Jack Taylor -Far North Coast, 23 Cayden Briscoe - Mid North Coast

NSW BARBARIANS TEAM

1 James Folaumoetui Illawarra, 2 Ben Park Hunter, 3 Kieran Holland Warringah, 4 Fred Kearney New England, 5 Harrison Bortolussi Manly, 6 Sam Pickard Eastwood, 7 Andre Ahovelo Randwick, 8 Luron Patea Penrith, 9 Reid Aland Manly, 10 Harley Wilson Eastwood, 11 Josiah Vatuba Two Blues, 12 Lisiate Tupou Eastern Suburbs, 13 William Clark Hunter, 14 Finn Watkins Eastwood, 15 Kai Vincent Manly, 16 Eugene Campbell New England, 17 Taniela Malungahu Southern Districts, 18 Hugo Brown Gordon, 19 Martijn Van Dalen West Harbour, 20 Tevita Alatini Penrith, 21 Tom Martin Randwick, 22 Vuli Tailasa West Harbour, 23 Sid Harvey Central North.

QUEENSLAND 1 TEAM

1 George Baker Sunshine Coast Grammar School, 2 Andrew de Jager Padua College, 3 PJ (Peniata Jnr) Poutasi Keebra Park State High School, 4 Jarvis Kaltenbach King’s Christian College, 5 Liam Manu Marsden State High School, 6 Zander McKinley Brisbane State High School, 7 Douglas Kennar Brisbane State High School, 8 Ellis Hannah Somerset College, 9 Joshua Groenewald King’s Christian College, 10 Dougal Mcleod Sunshine Coast Grammar School, 11 Miracle Tangata King’s Christian College, 12 Ryan FitzGerald St Columbans College, 13 Fiva Exodus Taumaletila-Maulolo Mabel Park State High School, 14 Finn Lawson Mountain Creek State High School, 15 Kaskade Saunders Wavell State High School, 16 Joshua Barlow Sunshine Coast Grammar School, 17 Kyaan Mauigoa Bray Park State High School, 18 Braxton Asi Wavell State High School, 19 Jake Spellacy Padua College, 20 Jack Gordon Brisbane State High School, 21 Hamish Woods The Cathedral School of St Anne and St James, 22 Netani Lesimaikimatuku Brisbane State High School, 23 Tai Gordon King’s Christian College, 24 Tom Molloy Matthew Flinders Anglican College.

Downlands Rugby members including Demetrius Christodoulou, second from right.

QUEENSLAND II

1 Phillip Vaoiva Bellbird Park State Secondary College, 2 Jakeb Horne Brisbane State High School, 3 Harley Cushan St John’s College, 4 Roko Knott Sunshine Coast Grammar School, 5 Mitchell Ross Padua College, 6 Connor Dick Sunshine Coast Grammar School, 7 Connor Day Downlands College, 8 Dylan Hindmarsh Brisbane State High School, 9 Finn Rielley St Joseph’s Nudgee College, 10 AJ Nanai Marsden State High School, 11 Blake Miller Sunshine Coast Grammar School, 12 Zac Brown St Mary’s College, 13 Dominic Kallquist The Rockhampton Grammar School, 14 Jakob Talafua Wavell State High School, 15 Dre-dyn Takave Brisbane State High School, 16 Vaimoe Koroi St Peters Lutheran College, Springfield, 7 Rikau Tuahine King’s Christian College, 18 Kytama Cooper Ipswich State High School, 19 Barney Radel St Peters Lutheran College, 20 Mackenzie Koch Downlands College, 21 Demetrius Christodoulou Downlands College, 22 Samuel Chick Marist College Emerald, 23 Finlay Harris Sunshine Coast Grammar School, 24 Jesse Bohm The Scots PGC College

ACT TEAM

1 Taua Fagataele St Edmunds College, 2 Tony Lemisio St Edmunds College, 3 Drew Brndusic Trinity Anglican College, Albury, 4 Henry Alsworth St Edmunds College, 5 Nathan Butt Tumut High School, 6 Deveraux Tapelu St Edmunds College, 7 Darcey Bush Daramalan College, 8 Abraham Tuli St Edmunds College. 9 Jake Mead Marist College. 10 Andrew McFarlane St Edmunds College, 11 Joe Henry Marist College, 12 Keresoma Tuilagi Erindale College, 13 Tom Hayes Marist College, 14 Lekani Mpaso St Francis Xavier College. 15 Shane Wilcox St Edmunds College. 16 Joey Leuii Erindale College, 17 Liuaki Percival St Edmunds College, 18 Logan Pou St Edmunds College, 19 Patrick Iles Marist College. 20 Bailey Buesnel Trinity Christian School, 21 Archie Blaney-Brown St Edmunds College, 22 Jack McIntyre Daramalan College, 23 Silas Holmes Canberra Grammar School. Coach Angus Balmaks. Asst Coach Nick Leah, Manager Rob Smethills. Physio Elliot Rechtin

VICTORIAN TEAM

1 Valu Seinafo - Staughton College, 2 Dwayne-Faiupu Finau - Fountain Gate Secondary College, 3 Caedus Kakatisi Vaihu - Aquinas College, 4 Paino Hehea St Francis - Xavier College, 5 Kascy Poutu - Sunshine Secondary College, 6 Cedric Iotua - Fountain Gate Secondary College, 7 Fionn Clifford (C) - Trinity Grammar School, 8 Corey Lleumaga-Chan - Fountain Gate, 9 Jehan Roland - Mazenod College, 10 Brodie Haugh (VC) - Lara Secondary College, 11 Kees Paramore - Gleneagles Secondary College, 12 Kobi Heurea - Fountain Gate Secondary College, 13 Haami Graham - Fountain Gate Secondary College, 14 Zyon Iosefo - Parade College, 15 Lachlan De Garis - St Kevin’s College, 16 Markcus Ioane - Westall Secondary College, 17 Rupert Edwards - Melbourne Grammar School, 18 Alifa Laasia - Staughton College, 19 Darcy McKenna - Melbourne Grammar School, 20 Finlay Gough - Xavier College, 21 Sam Parker - St Kevin’s College, 22 Anaru Whakaari - Melbourne Grammar School, 23 Kane Dickson - Whitefriars College, 24 Jack Phillips - Sandringham College.

CHS1's Charlie Norton with her medal after winning a recent trials and championship in Sydney.

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NSWJRU INVITATIONAL GREY U16 GIRLS TEAM

Kelsey Berryman Narrabeen Sports High School CHS, Tess Elmslie Pymble Ladies College CIS, Grace French Stella Maris College CCC, Aliahana Fumiaono Westfield sports high school CHS, Eve Keeling St Pius X, Adamstown CCC, Coco Marsters Mackellar Girls High School CHS, Tia Matthews The Hills sport high school CHS, Sienna Mae Montgomery St Peters Catholic College Tuggerah CCC, Tahlia O’Brien Figtree High School CHS, Lillee Sankey Wwarialda high school CHS, Rastalia Smith Endeavour Sports High School CHS, Pauline Suli-Ruka Westfields Sports HS CHS,

COACHES: Delahoya Manu, Brittany Merlo

NSWJRU BARBARIANS U16 GIRLS TEAM

Ryvrr-Lee Alo Hunter Sports High School CHS, Sydney Davis Barker College CIS,

Amirah El Abdallah Ashcroft high school CHS, Chaela-Lee Falls Greystanes High School CHS, Khyliah Gray Northern Beaches Secondary College - Mackellar Girls Campus CHS, Sharon Latapu Westfields Sports High School CHS, Pyper Marchant Castle Hill High School CHS, Manilita Takapautolo Westfield sports high school CHS, Mia Tonga Kincumber high school CHS, Talea Tonga Pittwater house CIS, Olivia Vaalele The Hills Sports High CHS, Leonia Vei Strathfield South High School CHS,

COACHES: Ash Kara, Stevie Berryman 

QUEENSLAND U16 TEAMS

Charlize Ratu Kings Christian College, Shalom Sauaso Ipswich State High School, Tilly Cason Sunshine Coast Grammar School, Kaylani Tavita Mabel Park State High School

Ava Wereta Kings Christian College, Amahli Hala Kings Christian College, Ariana Henderson Ipswich State High School, Nikolina Fangupo Mabel Park State High School, Emma Stockwell Mt Maria College, Jaida Faleono Keebra Park State High School, Bella Thompson Miami State High School, Maddy Pomerenke James Nash State High School, Anna Park The Glennie School, Mercedez Taulelei-Siala Marsden State High School.

ACT OPEN TEAM

1 Aaliyah Lomas Canberra College, 2 Aliesha Limmer Canberra Grammar School, 3 Beyonce Marela Erindale College, 4 Chloe Smith Erindale College, 5 Emily Kite Erindale College, 6 Georgia Willey Erindale College, 7 Jess Crowe Daramalan College, 8 Lara Cosgrove Erindale College, 9 Lola Fletcher Lake Ginninderra College, 10 Molly Chidgey Erindale College, 11 Nikita Crabb Radford College, 12 Rubi Williams Erindale College, 13 Samantha Nealon St Clare’s College, 14 Sophia Sykes St Clare’s College.

Piper Simons calls the play for CCC1 in recent trials.

 NSWSRU 1 OPEN SCHOOL TEAM

Sophia Addington Northern Beaches Secondary College Mackellar Girls Campus, Edie Burke Barker College, Ella Carlie Central Coast Sports College, Anaia Cruickshank Northern Beaches Secondary College Mackellar Girls Campus, Milla Elaro Westfields Sports High School, Georgia Grey Monte Sant Angelo Mercy College, North Sydney, Martha Harvey Narrabri High School, Ella Koster Illawarra Sports High School, Lailani Montgomery St Peter’s Catholic College, Tuggerah, Aliyah Nasio Kingswood High School, Ruby Nicholas Pymble Ladies College, Charlie Norton Hunter Sports High School, Shaye Shipton Bulli High School, Piper Simons Stella Maris College, Manly.

CHS1's Lacey Cross. Pic: John Appleyard

 NSWSRU 2 OPEN SCHOOL TEAM

Tamsyn Cairns Loreto Normanhurst, Jessica Colbran Pymble Ladie’s College, Lacey Cross Northern Beaches Secondary College Mackellar Girls Campus, Waiaria Ellis William Clarke College, Gemma Eggleton Monte Sant Angelo Mercy College, North Sydney, Caitlyn Halse Magdalene Catholic College, Narellan, Mia Mackenzie Barker College, Brooke McKinnon Bingara Central School, Hope Millard Holy Spirit College, Bellambi, Rory Muller Westfields Sports High School, Harriet Neville Hunter Valley Grammar School, Liliana Reardon Warialda High School, Bronte Wilson Holy Spirit College, Bellambi, Kali Ainsworth.

QUEENSLAND U18 INVITATIONAL TEAM 

2 Leilani Ahsam Kings Christian College, 6 Heidi Dennis, John Paul College, 7 Taleah Ackland, Fairholme College, 8 Kiarah Rae Siauane, Keebra Park State High School, 9 Jasmine

Single, Miami State High School, 10 Tahli Devine St Stephens College Coomera, 11 Malaela

Su’a Mabel, Park State High School, 12 Lila Parr Chancellor State College, 13 Mackenzie

Zeller, Highfields, State Secondary College, 14 Fleur Ginn, Canterbury College, 15 Montaya

Hudson Marsden, State High School, 18 Leilani Hills, Brisbane State High School, 19 Jessica

Barnes St Ursula’s College, Toowoomba, 22, Skyla Adams, Keebra Park State High School

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