Super Rugby U16s, U19s news: Country teenagers out to make mark for Waratahs v Reds

Some of Country rugby’s top teenagers have been called into the Waratahs for Super Rugby debuts as the academy bids to keep an impressive winning record intact against the Queensland Reds.

The Waratahs will take on the Reds in the U16s and U19s Super Rugby matches in Queensland this weekend. Picture: John Appleyard.

NSW Country’s best teenage talent has been called up for the Waratahs U16s as they bid to keep their Super Rugby winning run intact in round three in Queensland on Sunday.

The Waratahs scored a runaway win in the opening round of the Super Rugby U16s competition a fortnight ago but are buckling in for a tougher test against arch rivals, the Queensland Reds, in round three.

And getting their first taste of the competition are two young guns who have made their way into the team via head turning performances in events including the state championships and City v County bout at Bathurst earlier this year.

Selestino Mainakavika and Anakin Richardson will debut for the Waratah after being identified in a sweep of talent across NSW tournaments.

Coffs Harbour back Kden Carter is another country teen in the side who made his debut for the Waratahs last year.

Oliver Smith for Waratahs during their big round one win. Picture: John Appleyard.

“Selestino is from Fiji and now in Dubbo and we saw him in the CCC pathway,” said Waratahs head of talent Andrew Cleverley. “He also played for NSW Country.

“Anakin is from the Newcastle area and also played in NSW County side.

“We also saw him at the state championships where we do a lot of talent ID.

“It’s good to see these country guys coming through.”

Cleverley said Mainakavika has good speed for a backrower, a good ball carry and is a “hard hitter”.

“Richardson has good set piece accuracy and a high work rate which makes him valuable,’’ he said.

Ashton Large for the Waratahs Under 16s at Leichhardt Oval. Picture: John Appleyard.

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The Waratahs are on a 14-match winning streak across all their Academy teams with pressure on the U16s and U19s to extend it at Norths rugby club this weekend in round three of the Super Rugby competition.

The Reds U16s come into the match off a 53–19 victory over the Brumbies in round two where the Waratahs had the bye.

But a week earlier the Waratahs smashed the Rebels 104–0 in their opening encounter of the competition.

The U19s also have a strong country flavour with Narrabri’s Sid Harvey and Joey Fowler both playing in the opening 80-20 demotion of the Rebels.

The scoreboard tells the story of the first round.

Both have been named to take the field this weekend alongside Joe Mangelsdorf who hails from West Wyalong,

Returning from injury are Hwi Sharples, sidelined for almost four months with a complete tear of his hamstring while on tour with the Australian U20s, and Nate TiiTii fon the comeback from a broken hand.

NSW Waratahs U16s: Lawson Armstrong, Oliver Smith, Hasani Bloomfield, Tahj Smith, Josh Arundel, Samuel Polley, Justice Taumoepeau, Selestino Mainakavika, Flynn Farrell, Talen Risati, Darcy Feltham, Keone Anitelea-Tsioussis, Cyrus Bloomfield, Creighton Meafou, Kden Carter, Anakin Richardson, Nicholas Kotorac, Amanaki Tangi, Charlie Grant, Henri Dempsey, Harry Whitaker, Ofa Latu, Jarryd King.

NSW Waratahs U19: Nathaniel TiiTii, Charlie O’Kane, Will Goddard, Thomas Girle, Joe Mangelsdorf, Jacob Veiru, Austin Durbidge, Eamon Doyle ©, Hwi Sharples, Joey Fowler, Brendan Palmer, Oscar Jorgensen, Liam Grover, Thomas Klem, Sid Harvey, William Guilfoyle, Jack Cesare, Kaleb Ah-Colt, Lachlan Doheny, Josh Va’alotu, Darcy Stanfield, Matteo Cleverley, Felix Turinui.

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