8 Next Gen 7s rugby rookies to black book for the 2032 Olympics after a dazzling display at Ballymore Stadium
A former Wallaby centre has likened one of Queensland’s best unsigned rugby teens to All Blacks World Cup-winning fullback Ben Smith.
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Arguably the finest cross-code rugby prospect in Queensland was among the top performers glimpsed at the elite Next Gen 7s rugby tournament at Ballymore on Sunday.
Brisbane State High School’s Angus Tagicakibau was a thrill-a-minute performer for Queensland’s Under-18s side that locked horns with New South Wales’ best in four matches across the day.
Girls and boys teams in the under-16s also battled it out in an action-packed bonanza of rugby 7s which aims to unearth stars of the future.
Few shone brighter than Year 12 student Tagicakibau, a smooth-moving outside back yet to be signed to a Super Rugby or NRL club.
It comes as a surprise because Tagicakibau was in the top echelon of players that contested the 2024 GPS First XV rugby competition, as well as the Connell Cup rugby league competition for Norths.
A union boy at heart, Tagicakibau tried his hand at the 13-a-side game two years ago and has since excelled in all three codes, including in rugby 7s, where he is Slippery with a capital S.
He has pedigree. Tagicakibau’s father George was the 1996 Queensland Schoolboys winger out of Nudgee College.
Brisbane State High First XV coach Steve Kefu, a six-cap Wallaby centre, likened the dynamic Tagicakibau to former All Blacks legend and World Cup winning fullback Ben Smith.
“He reminds me of Ben Smith. A little bit smaller but dangerous in the air and can play make as well,” Kefu said of Tagicakibau, also a capable halfback and flyhalf.
He said Tagicakibau’s communication was so good it even annoyed his forward pack at times throughout the school season.
“He’s got really good communication to the point where he doesn’t shut up,” Kefu smiled.
“His kicking game, and IQ (stands out). He is so easy to coach.
“His turn of speed, on the spot and in small areas is so dangerous.”
The exciting fullback, of Fijian descent, was one of countless rugby rookies who put their best foot forward at the Next Gen 7s competition. Some of the others are highlighted below after a highlight-laden showcase of free-flowing footy at Ballymore.
QUEENSLAND UNDER 18S
ANGUS TAGICAKIBAU
An unsigned gem, Tagicakibau was just one cog in a Queensland under-18s wheel of wizardry.
The headgear-wearing captain led by example with his telling lines, sharp footwork and vision.
He was not the only dynamo. The livewire Koby Kelland, pacy Mitch Moss, well-rounded Dylan Terblanche and others were impressive.
Kenmore rugby junior Mitchell Moss, a former short distance sprinter of considerable potential, was lightning.
Sporting bright yellow boots, Moss propelled away from defenders with sheer speed.
MYLES ROSEMOND
Rosemond was a key figure in Australia’s Under-18s side that won the Global Youth 7s tournament staged in New Zealand last year.
He was close to his devastating best again on Sunday when putting his teammates into space and making things happen on both sides of the ball.
A revelation of the 2023 season when he played his way into the Queensland Reds Under-16s from Brothers Townsville, Rosemond has kept improving and is very well suited to 7s where there is room to rove.
MADISON POMERENKE
Unfortunately the gutsy Pomerenke went down with a knee injury in the third match but up until that point she was a wrecking ball who refused to die in contact for Queensland.
A Gympie gun now at the GPS club in Ashgrove, Pomerenke has been a true-blue performer in 7s over the past six months having represented the Australian Schoolgirls and Queensland Reds.
The lines she ran on Sunday were devastating and her decisiveness impressive.
MIA BYRNES
Glennie School sporting ace Mia Byrnes was relatively quiet in the first three games but fit four games into one in the final match where she scored a dazzling double.
The Western Clydesdales rugby league livewire ran in two length of the field tries and was a constant threat all day.
Around her, the inspired performances from Anna Park and Nikeisha Ngaru also warranted praise.
QUEENSLAND UNDER 16S
AIMEE HENRY
Arguably the best performer in the under-16s girls division at Ballymore, Henry had her hand in just about everything good for the girls in maroon.
A Year 11 student at Waterford’s Canterbury College, Henry stood out like a sore thumb. Not because she was one of few wearing headgear but because her defensive intensity was just as impressive as her attacking skills.
Henry, who managed to stay error free while handling the ball a lot, is the younger sister of University Colts 1 forward leader and UQ scholarship holder Jack Henry.
Jack, a lock, flanker or No.8, had a club season to remember for the Red Heavies.
BILLIE BACKUS
The mobile Backus was one of Henry’s partners in crime on Sunday.
A tall, versatile type in the 15-a-side game, Backus brought her best for Ballymore. Running telling lines, defending stoutly, looming in support were trademarks of hers and there is more to come from the Australian Schoolgirls Rugby 7s select when the StoreLocal Premier Women club rugby competition rolls around.
A Dubbo Junior Rugby Club product, Backus attends Kings Christian College, the same school top gun Australian Schoolgirls Rugby 7s selections Evie Sampson and Kaelyn Passi attend.
ZAC ZEREMES
Zeremes was a class act in the spring representing the Queenslnad Country Under-14s in the Emerging Reds Cup at Ballymore.
A few short months later Zeremes was again at the forefront for his team.
A Nambour Toads talent from St John’s College, Zeremes has a boot that makes a difference in games.
In Queensland’s final match of the afternoon, Zeremes chased his own kick more than 50m downfield, regathered it, and once tackled flicked the ball away in contact to Lasaro Momoka who scored.
It was a sensational highlight bested by another stunning piece of play, a long distance try saving tackle where Zeremes held his opponent up over the tryline.
MITCH DURRHEIM
Brisbane State High Year 11 student Mitch Durrheim announced himself early on in Sunday’s first hit out.
The tenacious Souths Magpies outside back brought the fire to the Queensland outfit and fronted up on both offence and defence with a ferocity that caught the eye.
He was a beast in contact, often motoring forward with defenders draped on either side of him.
QLD U16S GIRLS:
AIMEE HENRY
TJ MURRAY
BILLIE BACKUS
NATALIA STARZYNSKI
MELEANE HALA
MAKENNA THOMPSON
JAHNESSA TALATAINA
RUBY SING
LEANDRI HEYNS
NIKAYLA MOSBY
CIENNA DUMAS
ABIGAIL VIRIKI
TYLAH ORCHER
QLD U16S BOYS:
KHALIS SOUTHON
LASORO MOMOKA
TAI HENARE
ZAC ZEREMES
HENRY WILLIS
JAY HOSEPH-CASH
JASIAH PARSONS
KOLBY WALTERS
MITCH DURRHEIM
MITCHEL VAN DYKE
ANDREW WILSON
JORDAN GORMLEY
TAVAI SIAUNUUA
QLD U18S GIRLS:
NIKEISHA NGARU
MADI COLLINS
MIA BYRNES
DANI MARTENS
MATILDA VIAL
MADISON POMERENKE
REESE ORCHER
TALIAH ANDERSON
ANNA PARK
LAURA-MAY MCGOVERN
TIKI CALLISTE
BELLA ALO
JAEDA MORATO
QLD U18S BOYS:
TAMATI MATHESON
KOBI NOUANRASY
DYLAN TERBLANCHE
ANGUS TAGICAKIBAU
MYLES ROSEMOND
ISAAC FIDOCK
MITCHELL MOSS
XAVIER TABUTEAU
LOCHLAN ROLLSON
DERMOTT ARTHY
KOBY KELLAND
ELIJAH BREEN
MATTHEW JOHNSTON
Originally published as 8 Next Gen 7s rugby rookies to black book for the 2032 Olympics after a dazzling display at Ballymore Stadium
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