30+ Players to Watch at the Australian Schools Rugby Championships staged at the Sunshine Coast Stadium
Australian Schools Rugby Championships’ Players to Watch revealed here as the code’s most exciting young guns prepare for competition from Tuesday.
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Representative teams from across the nation will flock to the Sunshine Coast to contest the 50th Australian Schools Rugby Championships starting on Tuesday July 2 at Sunshine Coast Stadium.
MATCH COVERAGE FROM THE SUNSHINE COAST
Ahead of the bumper event, featuring teams from Queensland, New South Wales, the nation’s capital, Victoria, a combined states team and Lloyd McDermott sides, we cast a light across some of the elite talent that will be on show by revealing 30 players to watch.
The Boys XVS and Girls 7s pools in the Under-18s and Under-16s age groups are littered with x-factor, with young guns from all corners of Australia out to impress.
Below are just some of the exciting rookies converging on the Sunshine Coast in a rugby bonanza which promises to be a roaring success.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
BOYS XVS
Ta’zaiyah Milner (QLD II Boys)
The word that springs to mind is electric.
This kid has wheels, a smattering of x-factor and could play centre, on the wing or at fullback.
Marley Ngatai (QLD II Boys)
Shaping as Brisbane State High’s First XV scrumhalf, Marley Ngatai is like a Tate McDermott - smart and composed but possessing the skill and tenacity to blow a game wide open.
Watch out.
Will Hope (QLD II Boys)
Watch for the leadership of powerful lock Will Hope to inspire Queensland throughout the week.
A returning player from last year’s team, the strong and rangy second rower knows his role back to front.
Harvey Kachel (QLD II Boys)
A high achieving Cassowary Coast rugby junior, Kachel boards at rugby stronghold Brisbane Boys’ College and is the First Peninsula representative to be selected in the Queensland side in some time.
He was an Under-16s Queensland Country selection at last year’s Emerging Reds Cup at Ballymore.
Jezaiah Sega (ACT Boys)
A Brumbies Under-16s selection last year in the club’s Super Rugby National Championships campaign, loose head prop Jezaiah Sega was a smooth operator who could play fly half.
With silky hands, Sega, also a Belconnen United Sharks rugby league player, would do just fine conducting the attack for ACT.
Talia’Uli Latukefu (ACT Boys)
From Marist College Canberra, Talia’uli Latukefu was a quiet and unassuming gentle giant who earlier this season was named in the Preliminary Australian Under-18s squad to face New Zealand later this year.
A No. 8, Brumbies Academy player Latukefu looms as a damaging threat for the ACT side.
Grady Woolley (ACT Boys)
The ACT side will be well equipped with fearless scrumhalf Grady Woolley, who was a part of the Rebels Under-18s Academy.
With his crisp service, accurate kicking and tackling ability, Woolley will likely play a key role in the side.
Manaaki Bateman (QLD 1 Boys)
The starting hooker in News Corp’s AIC First XV rugby Team of the Season two years in a row, Australian Schoolboy selection (2023) Manaaki Bateman is a rolling maul technician with great hands.
Watch for the powerful St Patrick’s College, Shorncliffe senior to threaten close to the tryline and flourish in the wider channels when given a chance.
Zac Nichol and Blake Millar (QLD 1 Boys)
Loyal servants to the productive Sunshine Coast Grammar program, inside centre Zac Nichol and fullback Blake Miller were classy athletes with great rugby IQ.
Both boys are athletes, capable of doing it all themselves or setting their teammates up.
They know each other’s games like the back of their hands which makes the Queensland side a real threat.
Ben Davis (QLD 1 Boys)
Queensland’s No. 8 won’t be hard to miss. He is a towering figure with great footwork, mobility and athleticism and can do a bit of everything.
Watch for Davis and his big men Huw Griffiths (hooker), Trent Picot (flanker) Saxon Thompson (lock) and Kingbenjamin Swirling (prop) to influence games.
Caleb Fanolua-Tusitala (Victoria Boys)
Fanolua-Tusitala will be the front man for the Victoria Boys. A No. 8, Fanolua-Tusitala has been part of the Rebels Academy for the past two years.
He is one of the most skilled, committed and talented players on the scene in the Victorian school rugby system, a person with a lot to offer on and off the field.
Fanolua-Tusitala is a strong ball carrier with good footwork, an exciting player to watch.
His defence and support play were also strengths, along with his leadership.
He is the type of player who was always there to back up when needed around the broken play, a young man who gives 100 per cent in every game he plays.
Sam Fangatua (Victoria Boys)
The young flanker has been a part of the Rebels Academy for the last two years where his dedication and commitment shone through.
Fangatua is not just a strong ball carrier, but he also brings so much more to the game on the field.
Fangatua is a team man, the type of person who would play out of position, including in the second row.
He is a fast and strong jumper in the lineouts, and overall an exciting player to watch with great ball skills.
Jackson Jury (Victoria Boys)
A genuine utility who can play No. 10, outside centre or fullback, Jury is a speedy, agile type of an outside back, but the strength and vision of a player used closer to the forwards. He has an excellent kicking game and was renowned as a great leader, hence his selection in the Rebels Under-18s team last year.
Ed Lyons (Victoria Boys)
An outside centre or right winger, St Kevin’s College finisher Lyons has tremendous running lines where his speed and strength comes into play. He is also an aerial threat.
On the other side of the ball, Lyons was also a strong defender who makes good decisions.
Jai Callaghan (NSW I Boys)
The New South Wales side will have plenty of firepower at this year’s event, but perhaps the most potent could be their fullback Jai Callaghan, an exciting Year 11 from the Shore School.
A fullback, Callaghan has x-factor about him and his speed and nimbleness flying through the backline could invoke visions of Broncos star Reece Walsh.
OPEN GIRLS 7S
Anna Park (QLD U18 Girls Maroon)
A hooker or centre on the 7s paddock, Anna Park brings last years experience as a member of the team to this year’s event.
Skilful, pacy and fearless with the ball in hand, Park will be a dynamo alongside Shalom Sauaso in Queensland’s pursuit of success.
Shalom Sauaso (QLD U18 Girls Maroon)
A development player for the Broncos in their upcoming NRLW season, Ipswich SHS senior Shalom Sauaso is an excitement machine whose ferocity will be easy to see at this year’s championships.
A powerful runner with a tenacity about her, Sauaso is a young veteran who will do it herself and drive the success of her teammates at centre.
Nikeisha Ngaru (QLD U18 Girls Maroon)
Small but scintillating, Sunnybank Dragons Premier Women winger Nikeisha Ngaru will be in her element with just seven opposition players standing between her and the tryline.
Fast, nimble and selfless, Ngaru will be there to finish backline movements and also mop up tackles with her brave cover defence.
Evie Sampson (QLD U18 Girls White)
An emerging scrumhalf from elite rugby school Kings Christian College, a school that has produced high achieving players like Leilani Ahsam, Amahli Hala and Charlize Ratu.
Samson, the scrumhalf for the best women's rugby side in the nation, Bond University, was a jack in the box player with a damaging running game and sharp service.
Kaelyn Passi (QLD U18 Girls White)
A gun outside back from King’s Christian College, Kaelyn Passi is another elite finisher who brings try scoring finesse to this bumper Queensland White side.
A Burleigh Bears Under-19s player, Passi will be on the score sheet before long.
Jazlyn Leota (QLD U18 Girls White)
A fast finisher from the Stuartholme School, Jazzy Leota has two seasons of Premier Women club rugby experience with big improvers Brothers under her belt and brings that, and natural talent to the championships.
Watch for Leota to excel on the wing.
Mia Byrnes (QLD U18 Girls White)
Yet another wonderful athlete from the sporting rich plains of the Darling Downs, this The Glennie School product is a here, there and everywhere type. She can play on the ball, or run the pants off a kangaroo out wider. She is a member of the QRL’s Emerging under-17 rugby league squad.
Manaia-Rose Afuie (QLD U18 Girls White)
A wildcard talent attending Marsden SHS, Manaia-Rose Afuie was another promising rookie who plays for Sunnybank in the Premier Women Queensland Premier Rugby competition.
She is the younger sister of reigning Selena Worsley Medallist Ana, an award for the best player in the competition last year.
Like her sister, Manaia-Rose is a scrumhalf but can play fly half as well.
Makenna Ravouvou (ACT Girls)
A member of the ACT Brumbies Women’s Academy and a member in the club’s Super W Elite Development squad for 2024, Makenna Ravouvou will don No.10 for ACT.
The emerging flyhalf has the power and pace to challenge defenders and she also has a bit of flair which could come to the fore when the ACT are in need.
Lahni Hall (ACT Girls)
An Erindale College sporting ace, Hall represented the Canberra Raiders Tarsha Gale Under-19s earlier this season, playing a key role in the representative New South Wales Rugby League side.
A playmaker, Hall’s soft hands and deft kicking game compliments her ability to be a play ahead in game.
She will wear No.9 and you won’t miss her.
U16 GIRLS 7S
Genesis Tupai (QLD Girls U16 White)
The Queensland White team will have plenty of firepower with emerging Keebra Park SHS outside back Genesis Tupai in the squad.
A Burleigh Bears Harvey Norman Under-17s selection earlier this season, Tupai knows how to find the tryline and is a strike finisher.
Emily Jackwitz (QLD Girls U16 White)
From Ipswich SHS, Jackwitz is a natural ball runner who is well versed in seven-a-side rugby having already represented Queensland at a junior level. But she can tackle as well, don’t worry. You don’t play in the powerful Ipswich SHS National Schoolgirls side unless you can down your opponent.
Keira Callaghan (NSW Girls U16 Blue)
New South Wales’ Blue side will have a tremendous starting point if they are in need of points.
Getting the ball into Keira Callaghan’s hands was a great idea, the pacy centre with lethal footwork is a whiz in open space.
It will be hard to miss the explosive Callaghan, a pass first teammate who has the pace to create for herself.
Molly Adamson (NSW Girls U16 Blue)
Molly Adamson will be manning the pumps as a breakaway forward. A hard worker with a strong carry, Adamson will look to use her rugby IQ, tackling skills and pilfering to relieve pressure for her side and swing momentum.
Billie Backus (QLD Girls U16 Maroon)
The emerging fullback will feel right at home playing rugby 7s.
A tall, athletic type, Backus’ kicking game, both for touch and at goal, as well as her power through contact will be on show for all to see.
Aimee Henrey (QLD Girls U16 Maroon)
Backus’ running mate Aimee Henrey will also feel right at home, having played a considerable amount of rugby 7s before in Canterbury College’s rugby program.
The ace outside back is a finisher, who has a knack for evading tacklers.
Originally published as 30+ Players to Watch at the Australian Schools Rugby Championships staged at the Sunshine Coast Stadium
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