Traits, skills, type of players Waratahs looking for at Gen Next Cup for rugby U15s v Reds

A desire to be “physical and combative’ are just two traits NSW Waratahs selectors are keen to see as 125 of NSW’s best junior talent hunt for spots in their U15’s squad this weekend.

Illiyaz Villamu passes the ball at the last Next Gen Cup last year. Picture: John Appleyard

Every young players selected to compete at the Next Gen rugby tournament this weekend is in with a chance of making the Waratahs U15s squad to take on the Queensland Reds in a two-game series in October.

Waratahs Pathway co-ordinator Matt Evrard said he is hoping to see a range of skills from the rising stars of the games over Saturday and Sunday’s games at Camden Rugby.

“This is their first chance to impress. We cast the net the widest here (in this age group),’’ Evrard said.

“Every kid who plays on the weekend is eligible for the squad and they will then go into camp before playing the Reds in the first game at Ballymore on October 6 and then back here in Sydney on October 12.’’

Evrard revealed it is not only the current form of players he and selectors will be looking at but future potential of the player.

Isaiah Ignu Sheck from U15 Gavin team at last year’s event.

“We are looking for football talent that stands out, size is a big thing and in the 15s we see see big growth spurts.

“There are lot of kids who grow quite quickly now who haven’t learned how to move in their body just yet.

REMEMBER THESE NAMES: Top U14, U15 players

Hasani Bloomfield on the burst last year.

“Skill level is another thing and physicality is always a good thing – the ones who like to do it and the ones who have the right shape.

“Ones that have a desire to be physical and combative.’’

Evrard said this event helps put elite rugby aspirants on the right road with all but around five players in the recently named U16s squad for the upcoming Super Rugby series benefiting from time with the U15s program.

“We usually get a good gauge out of this age group,” he said,

“The 16s is the first age where selection sharpens up and we usually find we are only adding minimal extra players.”

Hugo Wilson from U15 Waugh with the ball. at the Next Gen Cup last year, Picture: John Appleyard

NEXT GEN RUGBY CUP 2024 PLAYER SQUADS

U14s Next Gen Blue Team: Arlo Benjes Lucas Bentham Billy Bowen Urijah Brown Jake Capovilla Sebastian Conna Jack Corbett Malachi Faavae-Eli Deon Haynes Cooper Hayward Cruz Holmes Khan Jackson Thomas Jackson Tevita Mafi Wesley Moala Levi Perrett John Rasiga Leonard Salter Lorima Seuseu Malachi Soane Ezekial Stanley-Ligaiviu Ignatcio Struve Betancourt Iverson Tanuvasa Destin Tausala Mathius Toailoa Abraham Tohme

Team Baxter: Oscar Amituanai Cordell Arama James Boerner Tighe Bond Charlie Briggs Tadhg Carpenter Kai Cauvin Ethan Cooper Eddie Garcia-Wood Finn Hannon Archie Hartman

Max Hill Jake Hutson Dewan Jacobs Ahmed Kassir Kiju Kim Talmage Lemusu Billy Miller

Julian Minto Noah O’Keeffe Riley Paki Solomone Penitani Jack Procter Jack Treak Cooper Butler

Team Ella: Harry Adamo Taylan Barton Henry Baxter Thomas Chan Sam Clarke Moar Levi Ellis Sanele Fakatava Maika Fakatava Phillip Falaniko Oscar Forsey Jake Fourie Cai Garrett

James Gormly Seluki Halangahu Levi Henderson Bailey Logue Tom Longland Sinclair Lyne

Asera Peniata Jack Smith Tom Symons Kaiasi Talakai Payton Tarau Zyron Telfer Lachlan Wallace.

Team Gavin: Chayce Afa Diggy Atkins Thijs Beckett Jake Bergania Lucian Bester Cooper Butler Asher Chapman Kingston Finau Will Gencur William Gleeson Lachlan Kable Hugh MacGregor Archie Marshall Cooper Martin Johnathan Mau Oliver McGarity Hugh McMullen

Atticus Strachan Levi Strong Jayden Suffell Ephrium Tone Rory Tyacke Jonah Van Der Heide

Noah Vaotangi Cooper Williams.

Team Waugh: Ben Barretto Jeremiah Beale Norris Manni Campbell Morgan Carter Makoto Chapman Khaled Elmasri Douglas Fa’aoso Rocco Fava Zac Gedz Hunter Hall Emanuel Higgins Archie Hill Izak Holmes Jayden Richards Wilson Ruthven Siulu Sikahele Jharall Sione Harry Smythe Maximus Solofuti Isaac Street Marlee Thomas Felise Uvea Thomas West

Bryn Wooldridge Charlie Xuerebe

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