Reds duo Harry Hockings and Jordan Petaia won't be heading to the U20s World Champs, with Queensland keeping them for Super Rugby.
Hockings and Petaia will join Hamish Stewart as Reds players unavailable for the World Championships, with Brad Thorn considering them required Super Rugby players for the tournament's duration.
Petaia has burst onto the Super Rugby scene this year, becoming the youngest Queensland Super Rugby debutant ever earlier this season, while Hockings has impressed in his outings for Queensland.
Rugby AU high performance manager Ben Whitaker said the potential withdrawal of the pair had been discussed by Australia and Queensland.
“We’ve been in constant dialogue with the Queensland Reds about the availability of Harry and Jordan for the Junior Wallabies and have come to the agreement that it is in the best interests of both players to remain with the Reds at this time," he said.
“The overlap of Vodafone Super Rugby and the World Rugby U20s Championship forces us to consider the requirements of our Super Rugby teams as well as the importance of the World Rugby U20s Championship and we believe we have made a balanced judgement in this case.”
NSW's James Ramm and Queensland's Michael Wood have come into camp with the team, as they prepare to leave on Sunday for the tournament in the south of France.
FIXTURES
World Rugby U20s Championship
All times AEST
Thursday May 31
5am - Australia vs Wales
Sunday June 3
10pm - Australia vs Japan
Friday June 8
5am - Australia vs New Zealand
