Australian schools rugby championships: NSW Juniors on fast track to success, day 1 result

They are abrasive and physical but it’s another skill this team hopes will deliver success against their polished rivals at the Australian schools rugby championships. ASRU latest

A great try in NSW Juniors 33-17 win over Victoria. Picture: Supplied/ASRU.

The NSW Juniors will rely on physicality and abrasiveness to make them competitive but hope there’s one super skill they have which will give them an edge on rivals at the Australian Schools rugby championships on the Sunshine Coast this week.

The defending champions only has their squad confirmed on the weekend and limited time together before flying north for their opening game against Victoria on Tuesday which they won 33-17.

“We are really well balanced although I don’t think we are massively big. The schools kids (NSW 1 and 2) tend to be a bit more physical and built,’’ said NSWJRU coach James Barkell.

“But we won’t be shying g away from contact.

“I think we are abrasive and rowdy and we’ve picked players who like the contact zone.

“We’ve also got speed mobility around the field so in this sense, I think we will match them for physicality but hopefully we are a little bit quicker around the park than them. That could be important.’’

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NSW Juniors pulled off a massive upset to win the title last year.

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The NSW Juniors boast numerous players from the highly successful Randwick team which won the state championships earlier this year.

“We had so little time for players to adjust and get used to each other following selection trials late last week,’’ Barkell said.

“This could be another key to the success of the NSW Juniors side with so many players familiar with each other.

The 2024 Australian Schools Rugby Championship is being played on the Sunshine Coast.

“I’m pretty happy with the a group. James Finegan and Tom Farr-Jones are all off the back of the state championship win and Farr-Jones has speed and is very elusive.

“I also think our outside backs are going to be dangerous.

“One thing that excites me is we always unearth a few rough diamonds.’’

Day one action between NSW Juniors and Victoria.

NSW JUNIORS SQUAD: 1 Taione Saukilai Sydney/Two Blues 2 Rico Ross Illawarra 3 Felix Harvison Sydney/Manly 4 Marley Chandra NSW Country/Illawarra 5 James Finegan Randwick/Waverley College 6 Jacob Colwell Sydney/Southern Districts 7 James Nestor Randwick/Waverley College 8 William Picken Lennox Head 9 James Thompson Sydney/West Harbour 10 Oscar Godwin Lennox Head 11 King Manu Sydney/Sydney Uni /Waverley College 12 Joe Harvey Eastwood 13 Mitchell Holmes Sydney/Eastwood 14 Tom Farr-Jones Sydney/Randwick 15 Sebastian Elizondo Randwick 16 Henry Burke Hunter 17 Joseph Eli Sydney/Two Blues 18 Marcus Mastro Randwick 19 Michael Vandros Mid North Coast 20 Mitchell Langley Sydney Uni 21 Taite Howells Eastwood 22 Mitchell Balzer Hunter 23 Oliver McCracken Warringah. Head Coach James Barkell