Pasifika Youth Cup Barbarians teams background surprise, team lists for 2025 event, team lists
Chilean, Vietnamese, German, Ukrainian, Hungarian - the changing face of junior rugby has been exposed ahead of the Pasifika Youth Cup - and it’s more than a little surprising.
German, Russian, Hungarian, Nicaraguan, Vietnamese - these are just some of the unexpected and wide ranging backgrounds of youngsters now playing rugby in NSW and lining up at the at the Pasifika Youth Cup in Sydney this weekend
There’s also players from traditional rugby nations like South Africa, New Zealand, Ireland, Samoa, Australia, Fiji and Japan playinf shoulder-to-shoulder with youngsters with Manx, Indonesian, Ukrainian, Peruvian, Lebanese and Chilean connections.
Just four years old, the Pasifika Youth Cup has to be one of the most multicultural sporting events in the county and also one of the biggest two-day sporting extravaganzas.
Starting with a spectacular welcome on Friday, 68 teams and around 1700 youngsters from the Under 12s to the under 18s will play at what has to be Australia’s most multicultural sporting events on Saturday and Sunday.
It’s little wonder making the Barbarians teams at the Pasifika Cup has become one of the hottest tickets in town with Baa Baa’s to play teams representing Tonga, Samoa, Fiji, Cook Islands, Māori and Koori cultures at Whalan Reserve, Blacktown.
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“We had 800 nominations for nine teams of 23 so we were really over subscribed,’’ said NSW Rugby’s Ben Gregory.
“We could only have around 200 players at the tournament so there was a lot of interest.
“And interestingly around 40 per cent of those were not traditional rugby players.
“For many, who are playing league, this is their introduction to rugby and they just wanted to come and play.
Australia is a melting pot and now that is reflected in rugby and the nine Barbarians teams which boast players from city and country areas.
There are numerous athletes in the under 13 squad with South African heritage in Anro Swart, Ben Booysen, Francois Janse van Vuuren, Zander Swart, and Brian Verwey.
Additionally, Ryder Burgess (U12 Boys) has English and South African heritage, and Archer Shaw (U13 Boys) and Eli Saffy (U14 Boys) are listed with Australian and South African heritage.
The Barbarian also has a strong Pacific island representative from Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, and New Zealand, including Maori, across nearly every age group.
Samoan heritage is perhaps the most prevalent and includes players like Isileli Sikahele (U12 Boys), Jonah Toalepai (U12 Boys), Grace Fuimaono (U12 Girls), Patelesio Saisoaa (U16 Boys), and Rosalia Lui (U18 Girls).
The Tongan heritage is highly concentrated in the U16 Boys and U18 Girls, featuring Tausinga Langi, Romeo Vailea, Hulita Toefoki, and Florence Ata.
Aboriginal/Indigenous Heritage also features and includes Cooper Antoni (Aboriginal, U12 Boys), Tamika Hurst (Australian, Koori, U12 Girls), Charlotte Knight (Aboriginal, U14 Girls), and Matilda Seinor (Australian, PNG, Indigenous, U16 Girls).
Maori and New Zealand heritage is prominent, especially in the U14 Girls team, which includes four players with either New Zealand or Maori heritage - TeWera Tuulau (Maori, Samoan), Monique Alysia Anniss (New Zealand), Zhalia Nelson (New Zealand), Manaia Davis (New Zealand, Maori), and Anaiah Jaque (Maori).
Some of the unusual European and global backgrounds include Oliver Nadori (U12 Boys) with Greek and Hungarian heritage, Elias Aghamomwan (U13 Boys) with German and Nigerian heritage, Tanya Kikhtev (U14 Girls) with Samoan and Russian heritage, Chantee Neculman (U14 Girls) with Chile and Nicaragua heritage, Lara Ozerianski (U14 Girls) with Indonesian and Ukrainian heritage, Javier Kilkenny (U16 Boys) with New Zealand and Chile heritage and Lucy Brindley (U16 Girls) with Manx and Maori heritage.
U12 Boys Barbarians
Archer Hunt, Narrabri Blue Boars, Australian. Isileli Sikahele, Merrylands Wolves, Tonga. Ryder Burgess, Camden England, South Africa. Harry Warren, Wanderers Irish, Italian. Caleb Bell, Blue Mountains, Australian. Jaxon Bailey, Avoca Beach, Australian, Spanish. Corbin Jones, Hasting Valley Vikings, American, Australian. Oliver Nadori, Terrigal Trojans, Greek, Hungarian. Kai Mahony, Merrylands Wolves, Papua New Guinean. Lennon Steele, Coogee Seahorses, Australian, New Zealand. Hugo Crowley, Bowral Blacks, Australian. Harley Schulze, Wollongong Vikings, Australian, German. Jonah Toalepai, Western Raptors, Samoan. Thomas Tripet, Jindabyne Bushpigs, Australian. Cooper Antoni, Merrylands Wolves, Aboriginal. Noah Mahoney, Western Raptors, Australian. Liam Lategan, Petersham, Australian. Thomas Stone, Quirindi Lions, English. Isaiah Letoga, Southern Beaches, Samoan, Australian. Harry Crowley, Bowral Blacks, Australian. Finn Hawkins, Wagga Crows, Australian, Scottish. William Pollock, Beecroft Barbarians, Japanese, Australian. Cooper Daff, Dural, Australian.
U12 Girls Barbarians
Sabela Moyo, Camden Rams, Australian, Zimbabwean. Caitlin Scicluna, Hills, Maltese, Australian. Layla Fisher, Wollongong Vikings, English, Australian. Alys Lewsey, Randwick Magic, Australian, Welsh. Loralee Hammond, Wollongong Vikings, Australian, German. Isabelle Scanlon, Armidale Juniors, Australian. Lily-Rose Collins, Norwest Bulls, Samoan, Filipino. Allegra Childs, Manly Roos, Australian. Lucy Kambo, Campbelltown Harlequins, Papua New Guinean, Fijian. Sarah Dennis, Hornsby Lions, Australian, English, German. Isabelle Carbery, Lismore City, Australian. Tamika Hurst, Bogan Bulls, Australian, Koori. Grace Fuimaono, Camden Rams, Samoa. Aaliyah Saunders, Western Raptors, Maori, Niue. Harriet Thompson, Camden Rams, British. Avaiyah Sa’u, Camden Rams, Samoan, Australian. Georgia Simpson, Southern Beaches, Australian, Burmese. Ivyana Leaupepe, Western Raptors, Samoa.
U13 Boys Barbarians
Leigh Goldshaft, Hunters Hill, Australian. Anro Swart, Southern Beaches, South African. Lincoln Libby, Wahroonga Tigers, Australian. Nate Glover, Penrith Silverbacks, Australian. Fionn Rafferty, Petersham, Irish, Australian, British. Ben Booysen, Dural, South African. Francois Janse van Vuuren, Norwest JRFC, South African. Zander Swart, Southern Beaches, South African. William Russell, Oatley, English, New Zealand. Matthew Day, Hunters Hill, English, Australian, Irish. Jayden Talaina, Tuggeranong Vikings, Samoan, Australian. Brian Verwey, Southern Beaches, South African. Archer Shaw, Balmain, Australian, South African. Joash Archer, St Ives, Australian. Jack Kearney, Hills, Australia, Ireland. Eli Milosevski, Avondale Wombats, Aistralian, Macedonian. Elias Aghamomwan, Norwest, German, Nigeria. Michael Tunidau, St. Pats, Fijian, Tonga. Alfie Dimarco, Oatley, English, Italian, Croatian. Cormac O’Keeffe, Dural, Australian. Elijah Stewart, Rockdale Rangers, Samoa, Greece. Solomon Hall, Oatley, Fijian, Niuean. Magnus Green, Hunters Hill, British. Toby Creelman, Manly Savers, Australian, Irish, Israeli.
U14 Girls Barbarians
TeWera Tuulau, Merryland Wolves, Maori, Samoan. Madalyn Hill, Maitland Blacks, Australian. Monique Alysia Anniss, Lake Macquarie, New Zealand. Zhalia Nelson, Terrigal Trojans, New Zealand. Lara Ozerianski, Norwest Bulls, Indonesian, Ukranian. Amelia McRae, Young Yabbies, Australian. Charlotte Knight, Bulldogs Bathurst, Aboriginal. Jayda Stringer, Wollongong Vikings, Australian. Myah Clarke, Tumut Bullants, Australian. Tanya Kikhtev, Tuggeranong Vikings, Samoan, Russian. Indie Straney, Tamworth Pirates, Australian. Manaia Davis, Terrigal Trojans, New Zealand, Maori. Anaiah Jaque, Avondale Wombats, Maori. Emerson Williams, Terrigal Trojans, Australian, South African. Mila Hodge, Singleton Bulls, Australian. Chantee Neculman, Maitland Blacks, Chile, Nicaragua. Eva McIntyre, Northlakes Pirates, Australian. Tara Lemaira Lee, University of Wollongong, Fijian, Australian. Zoe Counter, Coffs Harbour Snappers, Australian. Lilly McCarroll, Tuggeranong Vikings, Australian. Mirei Kikuchi, Canterbury/Merrylands, Japanese. Amelia Mau, Campbelltown Harlequins, Samoa, Tonga. Francesca Healey, Port Macquarie Pirates, Australian.
U14 Boys Barbarians
Decklyn Hammond, Wollongong Vikings, Australian. Darcy Baker, Randwick Warriors, Australian. Kaine Beavan, Newport Breakers, Australian. Kairon Woodford, Maitland Blacks, Australian. William Podmore, Hunters Hill, Australian, British. Daniel Brewer, Oatley, Australian. Cooper Wilson, Oatley, Australian. Oliver Hooper, Manly Savers, Greek, Australian. Xavier Johnson, Lane Cove, Australian. Cooper Watt, Mosman, Australian. Cruz Carter, St Stanislaus College, Australian. Lachlan Furlong, Manly Savers, Australian. Hugh Christie, Balmain Wolves, English, Scottish, Australian. Talin Opai, Randwick Warriors, Maori. Hunter Circosta, Lane Cove, Australian. Eli Saffy, Hunters Hill, South African, Australian. Rohan Sykes, Blue Tongues, Irish/New Zealand. Noah Kilduff, Grafton Redmen, Scottish. Campbell Patterson, Casuarina Beach, Australia, New Zealand. Jackson Libby, Lane Cove, Australian. Tawa-Inka Campos, Newport, Peruvian, Australian. Caylem Sammut, Hawkesbury, Australian, Maltese. Hugo Cummins, Randwick Warriors, Australian.
U16 Girls Barbarians
Grace Warner, Newport, British. Marie-Lou Steele, Randwick Magic, Australian, French. Georgia Scanlon, Armidale Juniors, Australian. Rachael Ella, Singleton, South African. Zahli Millsteed, Orange City, Australian. Kylis Delaney, Kinross Wolaroi, Aboriginal, Polish, Niuean, Tongan. Amelia Galloway, Wagga Crows, Australian. Matisse Franks, Newport, Australian. Poppy Whitaker, Randwick Magic, Australian. Zoe Jeffriess, Randwick Magic, Australian. Martha Uluivuya, Dubbo Christian, Fijian. Matilda Seinor, Randwick Magic, Australian, PNG, Indigenous. Zara Gilbert, SCU Marlins, Australian, Filipino. Paulena Moran, Lindfield, Filipino. Laila Sarhan, (Club not specified), Fijian. Katelyn Minogue, Tuggeranong Vikings, Australia. Atereana Kahukura, Wagga Wagga Crows, Maori. Addison Bailey, Dubbo Rooettes, Australian. Lucy Brindley, Lindfield, Manx, Maori. Victoria Manchee, Narrabeen Tigers, Australia. Olivia Myers, Orange City, American. Evie Walker, Daramalan, Australian. Molly Sadlier, Maitland, Australian.
U16 Boys Barbarians
Patelesio Saisoaa, Uni-North Owls, Samoan, Australian. Javier Kilkenny, Petersham, New Zealand, Chile. Mthunzini Moyo, Camden Rams, Australian, Zimbabwe. Cooper Shand, Dural, Aussie, Maltese. James Cullen, Randwick Warriors, British, Australian, Indonesian. Tausinga Langi, St Pats, Tonga. Jimmy McDonald, Randwick Warriors, Australian. Enzo Zucchetto, Easts Beasties, France. Cooper Shaw, Coffs Harbour Snappers, Australian. Daniel Villate-Gallagher, Sydney University, New Zealand, Irish, Colombian. Hao Yan Lu, Avondale Wombats, Chinese. Harrison Roycroft, Oakhill College, Vanuatu, Australian. Symon Cheika, Randwick Warriors, Lebanese, Australian. Romeo Vailea, Hills Sports High, Tongan. Sam Dunne, Balmain Wolves, Irish, Scottish. Tom Casey, Cowra, Australian. Alexander-Paul Singh, Camden Rams, Samoan, Tongan, Indian. Max Hadfield, Drummoyne, New Zealand. Nico Cooper, Campbelltown Harlequins, Australian, Dutch. Jock Robinson, Orange City, Australian. Eamon Moody, Parkes Boars, Australian, Scottish. Antonio Sevesi Mau, Campbelltown Harlequins, Tongan, Samoan. Justinian Romanos-Regas, Oatley, English.
U18 Girls Barbarians
Pippa Lawler, Wauchope Thunder, Australian, Fijian. Jersey Grey, Lindfield, Australian. Hulita Toefoki, Daramalan College, Tonga. Florence Ata, West Juniors, Tongan. Marlee Brown, Maitland Blacks, English, Scottish. Rosalia Lui, Tuggeranong Vikings, Samoan. Sophie West, Maitland Blacks, Australian/Italian. Isabella Tripet, Tuggeranong Vikings, Australian. Stephanie Holden, Maitland Blacks, Australian. Madison Coppola, Lismore City, Australian. Tiari Delaney, Kinross Wolaroi, Aboriginal, Polish, Niuean, Tongan. Carissa Wendt, Merewether Carlton, Australian/Fijian. Matilda Bell, Broulee Dolphin, Australian. Lucy Elliott, Dubbo Kangaroos, Australian. Eleni El Azar, Southern Districts, Greek, Lebanese. Lily Mabon, Oatley, Australian. Maddison Godfrey, Mudgee Wombats, Maori. Matilda Martin, Forbes Platypi, Australian. Amelia Sullivan, Orange City, Australian. Zoe McRae, Forbes Platypi, Australian. Matilda Moses, Lindfield, Australian. Charli Gault, Tuggeranong Vikings, Australian. Sienna Sullivan, Orange City, Australian. Jemima Graham, Lindfield, Australian.
U18 Boys Barbarians
Marcus Mastro Randwick Australian, Italian, Greek. Nicholas Kaufusi WS Two Blues Tonga. Cy Preketes Eastern Suburbs Uruguay. Dwight Filipo Norwest Bulls Tonga, Samoa. Luke Woodford Maitland Blacks Australian, Cailyn Willis Merryland Wolves Australian. Lachlan Eather Singleton Australian. Luka Coughlan-Berg Woy Woy Lions South African, Irish, Italian, Lebanese. Ewan Moody Parkes Boars Australian, Scottish. Jack Campbell Eastwood Barbarians Ireland, Australia. Bazelel Po-Myat Goal College Burmese. Taj Leveni Southern Beaches Tongan. Ethan Sackar Eastern Suburbs Australian. Samuel-Jaden Rawali Randwick Paula New Guinea. Riley Donohoe Randwick Australian. Baxter Watts Tuggeranong Vikings Australian. Dimitri Armenis Trinity Grammar Greek, Australian. Ben Bromby St Pius X College PNG, NZ, Australian. Viliami Halahala Warringah Rats Tongan, Australian
AJ Sanft St Edmund’s College Tongan. Jack Bryant Cowra Eagles Australia, New Zealand. Philip O’Hare Manly Marlins Irish, Peruvian. Jayden Sadaj Maitland Blacks.
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Originally published as Pasifika Youth Cup Barbarians teams background surprise, team lists for 2025 event, team lists
