Sydney juniors rugby squad’s surprising strength, sons of a Wallaby and NRL gun

Sydney Juniors rugby squad is balanced with a “surprising strength’ according to its coach, along with the sons of a Wallaby and NRL gun from the past. FULL SQUAD

Sydney Junior Rugby selection trials.

Sydney Juniors rugby coach James Barkell said his new squad is balanced with a “surprising strength’, “electrifying guys’’ out wide and some familiar names.

After two weekends of trials, a squad of 35 has been selected for a series of games later this year, including a June 23 tournament against assorted schools teams at Eric Tweedale Stadium.

“It’s pretty balanced, there’s good depth in the forwards and fairly good quality in the backs,’’ Barkell said.

“One things that is surprising is the quality of the inside backs, more than normal actually.

“I’ve been involved in rugby for over 20 years or so and one thing Australian teams have been a bit weak on is general is really strong fly halfs. We have some strength there.

Sydney Junior Rugby selection trials on Sunday.

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“We have some really good organisers and talkers. From my previous experience its rare to get a talented player that has good vision and is also a good organiser. We have two or three players who are like that.’’

Southern District’s young gun Wihan Kruger turned heads at the trials as a “very good tactical kicker and organiser’’.

Felix Turinui, son of former Australian schoolboy sensation and Wallabies inside centre Morgan Turinui, and Rex Prosser, from Southern Districts, also made an impact.

“Rex has really good passing and execution and Felix very good vision,’’ Barkell said.

Tane Edmed in the Super Rugby Pacific match between the NSW Waratahs and the Blues.

Joining them in the side is Kian Edmed, brother of NSW Waratah fly half Tane and son of former NRL player and Balmain Tigers prop Steve Edmed.

“He’s a definite future prospect, has a good kicking game, can play 10, 12, 13,’’ Barkell said.

“He's very similar looking to Tane but Tane is more of a 10 and Kian more of a 12.’’

Barkell said he is also exited to have some depth in the hookers ranks.

“There are guys who missed out I was very impressed with,’’ he said.

“It’s a position where in Australian rugby we have been struggling. To have this depth is great.’’

The Sydney team will play GPS III on June 20 in a trial ahead of a tournament against school rep sides at Eric Tweedale on June 23.

NSW's Nick Lamming evading Queensland at last year’s 48th Australian School Rugby Championships at Knox Grammar. Picture: John Appleyard

SYDNEY JUNIOR RUGBY U18 SQUAD: Thomas Alloggia Dural, Ollie Aylmer Gordon, Sam Bourgeois Gordon, Jack Cesare Southern Districts, Daniel Christodoulou West Harbour, Harrison Darling Gordon, Lachlan Doheny Eastwood, Kian Edmed Randwick, Terence Fusi Two Blues, Levi Gooding Sydney Uni, Felix Harvison Forest, Kieran Holland Warringah, Tait Howells Eastwood, Andy Jones Manly, Tunui Jorgensen Gordon, Wihan Kruger Southern Districts, Nick Lamming Gordon, Quade Leo Western Raptors, Oliver McCracken Newport,

Archie McGurk Gordon, Dane Mitchell West Harbour, Chase Morris West Harbour, Oliver O’Riordan Sydney Uni, Riley Osborn Newport, Gus Paterson Gordon, Rex Prosser Southern Districts, Peni Ratu West Harbour, Ponipate Ravubale Two Blues, Darcy Standfield Randwick, Laurence Talataina Canterbury, Malakai Tuipulotu Western Raptors, Samu Tuisau West Harbour, Ratu Kamisese Tuqalo Sydney Uni, Felix Turinui Randwick, Paul Vaokakala Manly, Jonathan Wehbe Eastwood.

Additional Players asked to train and trial with the squad: Charlie Alexander Randwick, Aden Ekanayake Gordon, Benjamin Finegan Randwick, Jayden Miller Two Blues.

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