Suncorp Australian Schoolboys Team to Face Fiji

The Australian Schoolboys team to play Fiji in Brisbane in September as the curtain raiser to the Bledisloe Cup Test has been named.

Australian Schools Rugby Union has today named a provisional 15-man team for a Test against Fiji U18 in Brisbane in September.

The match to be played as a curtain raiser to the Bledisloe Cup match at Suncorp Stadium on September 13 will be will be the first time a Schoolboys Test has been held in conjunction with a Wallabies Test and also marks the 35^th anniversary since the first Schoolboys international in Australia against England at the SCG in 1973.

Among those selected are Josh Daley, the brother of Queensland Reds prop Ben Daley, who is one of five Queensland players selected after their 23-12 victory over NSW I at the recently concluded national championships.

Selected along with Daley (The Southport School) were lock Nick Buchanan (Terrace), the son of former Australian cricket coach John Buchanan, No 8 Jarrad Butler (The Southport School) and Nudgee wings Nicky Price and Dom Shipperley.

Six players are from NSW with three from The Kings Schools, including centre combination Michael McDougall and Cameron Mitchell and flanker Josh Ellice-Flint.

Salesi Manu (St Augustines College), Sam Roberson (St Stanislaus College, Bathurst) and Knox Grammar’s Mark Johnson have also been selected.

Halfback Justin Turner (Central College) is WA’s only reperesentative, while ACT flyhalf Robbie Coleman and fullback Tyler Stephens continue St Edmunds College’s long line of Australian Schoolboy representatives.

The remaining eight positions in the Australian Schoolboys squad will be filled after Australian Schools A plays Fiji in Sydney on September 6.

Suncorp Australian Schools team:

1. Salesi Manu  (St Augustines College, NSW)
2. Sam Roberson (St Stanislaus College, Bathurst, NSW)
3. Josh Daley (The Southport School, Qld)
4. Nic Buchanan (St Josephs College, Gregory Terrace Qld)
5. Mark Johnson (Knox Grammar School, NSW)
6. Josh Ellice-Flint (The Kings School, NSW)
7. Kotoni Ale (St Augustines College, NSW)
8. Jarrad Butler (The Southport School, Qld)
9. Justin Turner (Central College, W.A.)
10. Robbie Coleman (St Edmunds College, ACT)
11. Nicky Price (St Josephs College Nudgee, Qld)
12. Michael McDougall (The Kings School, NSW)
13. Cameron Mitchell (The Kings School, NSW)
14. Dom Shipperley (St Josephs College, Nudgee)
15. Tyler Stephens (St Edmunds College, ACT)

Australia A Squad to play Fiji on Saturday 6^th September in Sydney