Australian schools and under 18 rugby teens v New Zealand on road to being winning Wallabies,
They are the teenage rugby stars working to be “winning Wallabies” in the next few years now facing their biggest test to date - beating their New Zealand opposites. TEAM NAMED
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They are the young guns and rising stars of rugby who are being bought through the ranks to be part of a new era in their sport.
Teenagers and schoolboys with precocious talent about to run out in an Australian jersey against New Zealand for the first time on their budding careers. SEE TEAM BELOW
Youngsters in camp for a week in Canberra as the Wallabies were soundly beaten 40-6 by Wales and will now likely exit the World Cup in the group stages for the first time.
“We did talk about the result as a group and we want to be part of the solution, “ said Australian schools and under 18s coach Shannon Fraser.
“They want to be better footballers.
“We want this group in four years or so to be winning Wallabies.
“They are part of the solution and know the responsibility that entails.’’
On Thursday the Australians will face off against New Zealand in this age group for the first time since 2019 in the first of two Test matches in Canberra.
The second will be played at Viking Park on Monday.
The match follows on from the selection of the Australian team squad a recent battle between the NSW Waratahs and Queensland Reds under 18s Academies at Forshaw Park in Sydney’s south.
“It’s not lost on anyone this age group hasn’t had the opportunity to play Test football for a number of years…..to do it twice is really exciting,” Fraser said.
Fraser said the edict from he and his coaching staff is for the youngsters to “play their best football”.
“We know it will be clunky at times but we want them to exert themselves and show real effort,” he said.
“That’s what will bring their talent to life.”
Fraser said the week long camp has gone well and described his squad as “nice across the board’’.
“They have been building nicely,’’ he said.
“There’s really good knowledge. The boys have been in strong programs.
“The challenge is bringing it all together and singing off the same song sheet.’’
The Australian team unveiled on Wednesday for Thursday’s game will be captained by super fast Waratahs flanker Aden Ekanayake with Toby Brial and Hwi Sharples sharing the vice-captaincy.
There are 13 Waratahs in the team for Thursday’s match in Canberra along with 10 from the Queensland Reds, two from the Melbourne Rebels and one from the ACT Brumbies academy.
Australian School & U18s vs. New Zealand Secondary Schools TEAM
1. Macarius Pereira (QLD Reds, St Joseph’s Nudgee College), 2. Oliver Barrett (QLD Reds, St Joseph’s Nudgee College), 3. Will Goddard (NSW Waratahs, Knox Grammar School), 4. Charlie Brosnan (QLD Reds, Brothers Rugby Club), 5. Fergus Gillan (QLD Reds, The Southport School), 6. Aden Ekanayake (NSW Waratahs, Gordon Rugby Club) (c), 7. Wyatt Ballenger (Melbourne Rebels, Marcellin College), 8. Samuel Niulala (NSW Waratahs, Trinity Grammar School), 9. Luke Aiken (QLD Reds, Sunshine Coast Grammar School), 10. Joe Walsh (NSW Waratahs, St Augustine’s College), 11. Shane Wilcox (ACT Brumbies, Tuggeranong Vikings Rugby Club), 12. Dre Pakeho (QLD Reds, Brothers Rugby Club), 13. Xavier Rubens (QLD Reds, Brisbane Boys College), 14. Brendan Palmer (NSW Waratahs, Hunter Wildfires), 15. Finn Prass (QLD Reds, Brothers Rugby Club), 16. Lipina Ata (NSW Waratahs, Newington College), 17. Nathaniel Tiitii (NSW Waratahs, The Kings School), 18. Lehopo Leota (QLD Reds, Iona College), 19. Lachlan Doheny (NSW Waratahs, Eastwood Rugby Club), 20. Avery Thomson (QLD Reds, Brisbane Boys College), 21. Austin Durbridge (NSW Waratahs, The Kings School), 22. Toby Brial (NSW Waratahs, The Scots College) (vc)
23. Boston Fakafonua (NSW Waratahs, The Kings School), 24. Joey Fowler (Melbourne Rebels, Sydney University Rugby Club). 25. Hwi Sharples (NSW Waratahs, St Joseph’s College) (vc), 26. Leo Jaques (NSW Waratahs, The Scots College).
SERIES FIXTURES
Game 1 - 2.10pm AEST Thursday 28 September - Viking Park, Canberra
Game 2 - 12.10pm AEST Monday 2 October - Viking Park, Canberra
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