Extra teams, opportunity for country players floated for next U16, U19 National rugby champs

It’s been a resounding success in exposing our brightest rugby players to top level completions. But will the 2023 U16, U19 national rugby champs be even bigger and better?

The championship has thrown the spotlight on the rising stars of rugby.

Junior Wallabies coach Nathan Grey is delighted with the success of the U16 and U19 national championships and the stage it has provided rugby’s young talent for high quality games against the best in the country.

Grey said he would be happy if rugby can simply “hit repeat’’ on the championship in 2023 which has run across five rounds and will be decided by grand finals in Sydney on Sunday.

But the former Wallaby star said he would be delighted if the competition could be expanded in the future to give even more young players exposure to top level competition.

Tylan Berryman tackling Talia Ã’uli in the NSW Waratahs match against the ACT Brumbies.

“If we can hit the repeat button and do the same things again next year that would be phenomenal,’’ Grey said ahead of the NSW Waratahs and Queensland Reds battling for the series title in both age groups at Pittwater Rugby Park on Sunday.

“If you wanted to add another team in from NSW or Queensland, another Waratahs or Reds team to provided opportunity to see even more players, even better.

“It’s definitely a possibility.’’

Jackson Ropata celebrates a try.

Grey said it would be great to open opportunity to more country players - and potentially showcase the women’s game in some way “if the number are there’’.

“The (country) talent is out there. We know that,’' he said.

“That might be an option. To make it a bulk of country players plus an overflow from elsewhere.’’

Rebels PJ Palu scoring despite the best efforts of NSW’s Jack Matthews.

Grey said he has been impressed by the level of skill and growth seen at the championships.

“In the 16s, playing with athletes of a similar level is very good for them. We have seen players becoming really comfortable at this level,’’ he said.

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“The level of skill has been impressive and the ability to offload, keep the ball alive, the speed of the recycle, players being able to move the ball to space, trying things and such, that’s exciting to see.

“In the 19s I’ve been impressed with the way the teams have gone about building their game over the five week’s. You can see a consistency of players sticking their hand up regularly.

“From a game sense their ability to identify space and move the ball to the space has been impressive. So has the flow. That's good communication, good core skills.’’

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Originally published as Extra teams, opportunity for country players floated for next U16, U19 National rugby champs