Pasifika Youth Rugby Cup Barbarians teams to watch, top players and favourites

They were the last teams named but Barbarians and Harlequin squads are put to shock and awe at the Pasifika Youth Rugby Cup 2023 with talent galore in their ranks. Who to watch for.

The Barbarians sides have had limited time together but are still expected to be a big hit at the tournament

The players come from across the state and most of them have only met once or twice but Barbarians coaches are adamant their teams are in with a shot at this weekend’s Pasifika Youth Rugby Cup in Sydney.

Sydney Juniors boss Ben Gregory said around 500 youngsters had put their hand up for just 200 spots in the Barbarian teams playing at the Pasifika Cup in a major show of interest in rugby.

The junior rugby tournament is in its second year and has grown significantly with teams playing at Whalan Reserve and an All Stars squad named after the 16s boys competition to take on Australia in a one-off match in December.

“Barbarian teams are always the ones to watch and we have some very talented young men in this side,’’ said Barbarians 15s boys coach Tim Shand from the Western Sydney Two Blues.

“I think we’ve got a few returning from last year like Tobias Comito (Harlequins), Angus Kinney and Harrison Shand.

Some of the action in the 14 boys tournament last year between NSW Maori and Samoa.

“And our guys are from all over the place like Dubbo, Coffs and Kiama.

“They are a good bunch of fellas and all very quickly started to learn about each other so we are looking forward to them getting out there.”

Shand believes competition will be fiercely contested in the 15s boys.

“I’d say Samoa and the Maori side will be right up there. It will be interesting indeed,’’ he said. “They are short 15 minute halves though so anything can happen”.

Boys 16s coach Michael Nicoletti said the Harlequins and Barbarians sides in this age group make it “talent central’’.

“We have players from around the state so we did one big training session and they all look fresh and keen and there’s a lot of talent,’’ he said.

“They are looking to overtake the other teams. For us this will be about running rugby. We are there to entertain.

“We won’t be playing traditional rugby. We want to make a mark.’’

There are more female teams than last year as the tournament and interest in women’s rugby grows.

Nicoletti said some of his players to watch at the event include young halfback Oliver Dart “who Australian Rugby needs to look at’’ and Hamish Buckle, a young front rower from Joeys who is “looking good and fit’’.

Nicoletti said his team is almost a half split between city and country players and he has confidence his players will turn heads.

“One hundred per cent we are a chance,’’ he said. “A lot will come down to who has the best attitude at this event.

“I know a lot of the other players, there’s a lot of talent going around. This is a great opportunity.

“I think maybe the Tongans are the team to beat in our age. They have prepared well over a longer time than us but I think we will surprise by not playing structured rugby.’’

Ivan Chan, the 16s girls Barbarians coach, said his players also hail from around the state with some coming in from Jindabyne, Singleton and the Hunter for the tournament.

“We also have girls from the Central North area which is great and they have all put in a big effort to get here,’’ he said.

Chan said his players trained with the U18s girls to prepare for the Pasifika Youth Cup.

“It was very productive and we learned a lot and we also had trial matches against the Fiji and Samoa teams in a round robin which was great,’’ he said.

“They have been training for months but we learned a lot from that and I think we will be ready. Hopefully we can catch them by surprise.’’

Chan also has plenty of talent in his ranks, including young player Hebe Backus from Merewether.

There will be plenty of interest in the women’s comp this year.

“She will be in the centres, she is amazing,’’ he said.

“She’s from the Hunter and she is one to look out for.

“Maronay Smuts, our halfback, is also a good allrounder and an excellent kicker, who trialed for the Waratahs.

“We also have Tahira Armeda from Lindfield who has a touch football background. She’s a really good player.’’

Chan also has a youngster playing up an age in 14-year-old Rachael Ella from Singleton.

Barbarians 18s boys coach Doug Ryan has also been impressed by his talent ahead of the weekend.

“We were the last to fill our side and we are the second chance side for some so there is plenty of hunger,’’ he said.

“There is some pretty talented youths in this event. I am cautiously optimistic.’’

Ryan said he has a number of players to watch, including young fullback Luke Cannon from St Gregory’s, utility Felix Harvison and a few smokey.

“There’s Amazon Pua’avase from Ashcroft and front-rower Cajun Arnfield from Maitland. He’s listed as a tight head prop but might play hooker. He’s going into colts at Hunter so this is his last exposure to junior football.’’