Junior Wallabies 2021: Manly Marlin Zac Barnabas added into rugby squad

This rugby rising star has been toiling away in club footy - and on the tools - in recent times. Now he’s in Canberra with the best young talent in the country in the Junior Wallabies squad.

Zac Barnabas, who hails from Newport, has been added into the Junior Wallabies squad.

While the majority of his new squad mates in the Junior Wallabies have been part of Super Rugby club pathway programs, Zac Barnabas has been learning life skills.

The 19-year-old from Newport has been hard at work on his carpentry apprenticeship during the week but training nights and playing club rugby each weekend.

Now he’s heading to Canberra after being added into the Junior Wallabies squad preparing for a major Oceania tournament in July.

“I didn’t get into anything, the academies or programs so I’ve just been focused on playing well for my club,” said Barnabas, whose younger brother Jake also plays and who is also a talented sailor like his world championships winning skiff father Trent and grandfather Trevor.

“This is great. I hadn’t given up on representing. It was still a goal to make the team so I was still training hard, just not in an Academy.”

Zac Barnabas is heading to Canberra this week for a Junior Wallabies camp.

A former NSW schoolboy and Barbarian, Barnabas is a graduate of Saint Augustines on the northern beaches.

A new club rep pathway in NSW rugby has also seen three youngsters from last years NSW Juniors under 18 team in Adrian Brown from Eastwood, Witika Rees-Hatu from Gordon and Siosifa Amone, now with Western Force, make the squad.

“This pathway is different from the schools one,” said NSW Juniors President Ben Gregory.

“It’s a pathway for kids playing club rugby to make teams

“Three guys making it through (to the Junior Wallabies) this year is a good justification of the system.

“The club pathways was introduced to cater for youngsters outside the school system and to stress the inclusivity of rugby.

Teddy Wilson in his Waratahs kit. He is another NSW player in the squad. Pic: Supplied.

“Before in the U18s you had to play for schools to be in the Australian schoolboys.

“That changed three years ago because there are kids who had left school who were still under 18. It gives every kid in the state equal opportunity.”

The Canberra camp is part of the squad’s preparations for the Oceania U20s championship in July.

“It has been great watching the players in their respective Grade and Colts competitions and seeing them perform on the field. The strong club competitions provide that arena for growth and development,” coach Nathan Grey said.

“As a program, we’re excited for our squad members who have been elevated to their Super Rugby squads. That creates an open door for another player to step in and put their best foot forward.”

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Originally published as Junior Wallabies 2021: Manly Marlin Zac Barnabas added into rugby squad