Waratahs under 18 rugby trials: teenagers impressing, experts buoyed by talent

‘Exciting’ talent is emerging as selectors monitor the rising stars of rugby, with one position in particular hotly contested ahead of NSW Waratahs under 18 selection.

NSW Waratahs Under 18 2nd team v NSW Invitational in a match last year.

Junior rugby selectors are “excited” by what they see as they continue to monitor the rising stars of the sport across multiple trials and ahead of the selection of a Waratahs under 18 team in June.

In a major boost for the NSW Waratahs set up, numerous players from last year’s U18s squad are still eligible to play, alongside an assortment of exciting new talent from both the schools and club rugby systems.

Cracking the Waratahs U18s squad is an integral stepping stone to success for NSW country and city players with teenage sensation Max Jorgensen last year a member of it before being elevated into the Waratahs for a memorable Super Rugby debut and season.

Selectors have been monitoring the performance of under 18 players in numerous school and open trials across the state as they work on the makeup of their 2023 squad.

A major outing for the Waratahs 18s will be taking on their fierce rugby rivals, the Queensland Reds, later this season.

NSW Waratahs Under 18 team last year after their games against the Melbourne Rebels in Sydney.

“We are pretty excited about the talent,” said Waratahs head of talent ID Andrew Cleverley.

“We will be right up there with the Queensland Reds again.

“We have guys like Hadley Tonga and Oscar Jorgensen from last year back in the mix along with a lot of lads we have discovered through other trials.

Oscar Jorgensen in the NSW Waratahs U18 v NSW Invitational match last year. Picture: Julian Andrews

“There’s some under 16s bouncing up and we think we have great depth and the guys to perform against the Reds on July 1.

“There are also hotly contested positions like hooker.

“Our hookers are very competitive and players like Bailey Park (GPS, The Kings School) and Will Guilefoyle (GPS, The Scots College) from last year are still in contention.”

Oscar Jorgensen is the cousin of Max Jorgensen who was vice-captain of the Waratahs 18s team before being elevated to the Waratahs.

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