Skills and type of players NSW Waratahs hunting for U16 Super Rugby record chase, squads

The Waratahs U16s have an impressive record in rugby to defend this year and selectors want particular players to do it. Some of the traits and skills they want to see.

Spots are up for grab in the NSW Waratahs academy program. Pics: Julian Andrews

Performance and composure under pressure are some of the skills Waratahs U16 squad selectors want to see at an invitational tournament in Sydney this weekend.

Selectors are closing in on a squad of 36 they will work with ahead of the third instalment of the highly successful Super Rugby U16s tournament later this year.

Waratahs head of talent Andre Cleverly has detailed what the Waratahs want in their young players this year and at Friday and Sunday’s series of games between two schools teams and sides from City and Country.

Cleverly has already said the talent available is top notch this season and warned “very good players” will miss the squad cut due to this.

“We are looking for a bit for the future and now,” he said.

NSW player Angus Grover scores in the Super Rigby U16 comp last season. Picture: Julian Andrews

“We want to see them execute their skills under pressure, under fatigue in games that are played against other physically stronger guys.

“We are just looking for them to be accurate with the pressure, execute their skills under pressure and be as physical as they can be.’’

Cleverly said there will be scrutiny on repeat efforts, decision making under pressure and how quickly players get back into games.

A 36-strong squad will be named in the wake of the annual City v Country battle on June 28 being played at Bathurst.

Squads for the invitational below.

NSW player Tom Hartman scoring in the last Super Rugby series. Picture: Julian Andrews

SYDNEY U16 SQUAD: 1 Tyson Burden Sth Districts, 2 Roman Leilua Randwick, 3 Bryn James Whittaker Gordon, 4 Alex Ryan Gordon, 5 Gary Roberts Eastwood, 6 Boston Cameron Gordon, 7 Charlie Tanner Randwick, 8 Charlie Grant Randwick, 9 Harry Whitaker Randwick, 10 Callum Spooner Two Blues, 11 Samuela Sorovi Eastwood, 12 Ofa Latu Randwick, 13 Chris Moala Eastwood, 14 Santiago Uata Penrith, 15 Jack Kalms Warringah, 16 Patrick Donnan Warringah, 17 Puatonga Olivetti Eastwood, 18 Julian Tongia Eastwood, 19 Isileli Moli Sydney Uni, 20 Malaki Schwalger-Ioane Randwick, 21 Jiah-Trey Stewart Penrith, 22 Beau McKee Randwick, 23 Xavier Gyngell Gordon. Coach: Darren Beasley.

NSWSRU U16 SCHOOLS 1: 1 Lawson Armstrong The Shore School, 2 Caleb Fesolai Central Coast Sports College, 3 Angus McKenzie The Scots College, 4 Liam Sidwell The Shore School, 5 Hamish Bull The Scots College, 6 Tobias Comito Oakhill College, 7 Henri Dempsey St Ignatius College, 8 Isaac Perkins St Ignatius College, 9 Xavier Ryan St Josephs College, 10 Will Taylor The Kings School, 11 Jarryd King Newington College, 12 Keone Anitelea Tsioussis Newington College, 13 Ashton Large The Scots College, 14 Henry Troy St Josephs College, 15 Jozef Cluff Trinity Grammar School, 16 Mathius Tuipolotu Hills Sports HS, 17 Leo Fragar St Philips CC Cessnock, 18 Asera Peniata Rutherford High School, 19 Casey Bray St Augustines College, 20 Charlie Hicks St Josephs College, 21 Saxon Gaw Narrabeen Sports High School, 22 Paula Teisina Waverley College, 23 Hunter Chan Knox Grammar School.

NSWSRU U16 SCHOOLS 2: 1 Hamish Matthews The Kings School, 2 Strantz Schaumkel The Hills Sports High School, 3 Nicholas Kotarac Knox Grammar School, 4 Joel Stovold Barker College, 5 Joshua Arundel St Augustines College, 6 Aston Weir The Scots College, 7 Lukas Butler Oakhill College, 8 Riley Buda Newington College, 9 Aston MacCauley St Augustines College, 10 Oscar Tremlett The Scots College, 11 Viliame Siale

Murrumbidgee Regional High, School - Wade, 12 Creighton Meafou Edmund Rice College,

Wollongong, 13 Carter Mareko Central Coast Sports College, 14 Sonny Colella St Augustines College, 15 Max Circosta St Josephs College, 16 Finn Leary St Josephs College, 17 Mark

Falaniko-Brown Peterson Patolo Barker College, 18 Amanaki Tangi Narrabeen Sports High School, 19 Reid McCleery Newington College, 20 Sol Penitani Waverley College, 21 Hugh Gacitua St. Ignatius College, 22 Ofa Latu Newington College, 23 Flynn Killman Lisarow

High School.

NSW COUNTRY: 1 Jem Harper Jem Mid North Coast, Anakin Richardson Anakin Hunter, 3 Lisitoa Paea Ki Moana Central Coast, 4 Tully Drelincourt Hunter, 5 Blake Paisley Blake Far North Coast, 6 Lacom Poching Illawarra, 7 Taj Butcher Mid North Coast, 8 Aidan Hunt Hunter, 9 Darcy Cruickshanks Mid North Coast, 10 Taj Little Hunter, 11 Jack Harrison Mid North Coast, 12 Noah Hawke Hunter, 13 Anthony Time Hunter, 14 Corbin Devaney Central Coast, 15 Kden Carter Mid North Coast, 16 Elijah Galloway Far North Coast, 17 Lewis Smit Hunter, 18 Jack Mann Illawarra, 19 Douglas Manning Hunter 20 Ewan Baker Mid North Coast, 21 Ewan Moody Central West, 22 Selesitino Mainakavika Central West, 23 Phoenix Johns Illawarra, Shadow: Noah Gibbs Hunter.

MORE FROM AMANDA LULHAM HERE

Originally published as Skills and type of players NSW Waratahs hunting for U16 Super Rugby record chase, squads