Junior Wallabies coach Jason Gilmore is expecting some free-range rugby at this week’s U19 Rugby Championship, the first step in preparations for the 2019 World Rugby U20s.
The talent pathway for the U20s was flipped on its head to create the new U19 championships, giving younger players a chance to impress almost a year out from the U20s World Championship.
In previous years, U20s prospects played in the Super U20s before being picked for the Junior Wallabies at the end of that short season.
This new process means players spend the regular season in clubland and earn a representative chance rather than playing state rugby right off the bat.
“I think in terms of the tournament, we’re looking for a couple of outcomes,” Gilmore said.
“Number one (having) a progressive model now where you’ve got to play well for your club to get picked in rep footy.
“Previously with 20s you played representative footy and then club.
“It fits in better now, you play well in club and then go on to state level and national level - from a progression point of view, it’s a far more effective model.:
With the competition structured similarly to the NRC rather than Super Rugby, there are more teams and more chance for players to be seen.
“It allows us to cast that net a bit wider- there’s fair number of boys in NRC won’t be at the tournament and it opens up opportunities for guys who are a bit younger to have two bites at that U20s cherry,” he said.
“I think for our younger guys 18-year-olds, it’s a bit more of an opportunity to play representative rugby.
“It’s hard to go from club to play Junior Wallabies (when it was Super U20s) whereas when it’s 19s it’s a little easier to develop into Junior Wallabies and it’ll be interesting to see how the guys go.”
“Gilmore said he was keeping his eyes peeled especially for some young front rowers and outside backs ahead of next year’s U20s season, and anticipated some exciting rugby in the tournament.
“I won’t mention any names just yet but there’s certainly some key positional areas (we’re looking for),” he said.
“I’m keen to see how the boys go through that front row and in the outside backs.
“They play what they see in front of them, it’s not structured to death, it’s the style of play you want to see, that instinctive rugby.
The URC kicks off on Saturday September 29 at 10:30am AEST, LIVE on RUGBY.com.au.
FIXTURES
Saturday September 29
Sydney vs Barbarians, 10:30am
Queensland Country vs Melbourne Rebels, 12:30pm
Brisbane vs Western Force, 2:30pm
NSW Country Eagles vs Brumbies, 4:30pm
Monday October 1
Queensland Country vs Barbarians, 10.30am
Brisbane vs Brumbies, 12:30pm
Sydney vs Melbourne Rebels, 2:30pm
NSW Country Eagles vs Western Force, 4:30pm
Wednesday October 3
Melbourne Rebels vs Barbarians, 10:30am
Brumbies vs Western Force, 12:30pm
Sydney vs Queensland Country, 2:30pm
Brisbane vs NSW Country Eagles, 4:30pm
Friday October 5
4th vs 4th, 9:30am
3rd vs 3rd, 11:00am
2nd vs 2nd, 12:30pm
1st vs 1st, 2pm
SQUADS
Queensland Country
Forwards
Egan Siggs - Brothers - Gold Coast
Theo Fourie - Souths - Rockhampton
Laurence Tominiko - Sunnybank
Brendan Bell - Brothers
Torah Moe - University of Queensland
Angus Lovelock - Brothers
Dane Zander - Norths
Will Deardan - Wests - Warwick
Reagan Leslie - Souths - Toowoomba
Jack Butler - Bond University
Alex Smit - Wests
Lachlan Connors - Bond University
Ollie Sheppard - Wests
Reno Gerrard - TSS - Gold Coast
Backs
Neal McNamara - Sunnybank
Isaac Tarabay - Brothers
Brad Twidale - University of Queensland - Bringalily (Darling Downs)
Viliami Lea - Souths
Isaac Henry - Wests
Elijah Kefu - Souths
Ilaisa Droasese - Wests
Max Dowd - Bond University - Gold Coast
Cooper Whiteside - Wests
Joshua Walker - Bond University - Gold Coast
Lachlan Sperling - University of Queensland - Toowoomba
Brisbane City
Forwards
Elijah Kuilamu – Sunnybank
Ben Fox – Sunnybank
Rhys Van Nek – Souths
Jed Chapman – GPS
Flynn Noon – Wests
Prynce Romeo-Taugaele – Wests
Ethan Dobbins – Brothers
Ben Paxton-Hall – University of Queensland
Matt Munday – Brothers
Zac Munro – Souths
Angus Dean – Souths
Joseph Faulalo – Sunnybank
Nathan Marshall – Sunnybank
John Yates – University of Queensland
Backs
Billy Rutherford – Souths
Phoenix Hunt – Easts
Isaac Lucas – Sunnybank
Issac De Flavis – GPS
Hudson Creighton – Brothers
Tristan Staghan – Brothers
Byron Ralston – Brothers
Liam Matenga – Easts
Nathan Carroll – Brothers
Will Feeney – Sunnybank
Samuel Samu – Sunnybank
Sydney
Jayden Burgess (Gordon)
Liam Cornish (Randwick)
Frank Cutler (Gordon)
Ben Donaldson (Randwick)
Max Douglas (Manly)
Joel Ellis (Randwick)
William Finau (Parramatta)
Fiu Gibson (Randwick)
Haitoni Hafoka (Parramatta)
Tom Hando (Eastwood)
Brooklyn Hardaker (Eastern Suburbs)
Finn Kearns-Lafolafo (Randwick)
Jack Crichton (Parramatta)
Bailey Lamb (Southern Districts)
Setefano Leavasa (Warringah)
Ciaran Loh (Sydney University)
Saul McCredie (Gordon)
Kichie Navuso (West Harbour)
Joshua Nercessian (Warringah)
Callum Quinn (Randwick)
Blake Rixon (Manly)
Maylee Semu (West Harbour)
Matthew Stead (Randwick)
Joshua Thrum (Warringah)
Terence Toomata (Eastwood)
NSW Country
Bo Abra (Eastern Suburbs)
Jack Allen Hamilton (Newcastle)
Patrick Berryman (Dubbo)
Darcy Breen (Sydney University)
Sebastian Cameron (Northern Suburbs)
Ben Duckworth (Randwick)
Ben Houston (Randwick)
Harrison Jackson (Manly)
Will Johnston (Eastern Suburbs)
Nick Katsogiannis (Randwick)
Nathan Lawson (Southern Districts)
Jack Murray (Sydney University)
Isoa Nasilasila (Eastwood)
John Pale (Northern Suburbs)
Mike Pavlakis (Gordon)
Eddie Poolman (Sydney University)
Felix Quinn (Manly)
Henry Robertson (Sydney University)
Luke Russo (Parramatta)
Lachlan Shelley (Eastwood)
Mitieli Tuinakauvadra (Sydney University)
Jack Walsh (Manly)
Hunter Ward (Manly)
Ben Wood (Maitland)
Yool Yool (Manly)
Brumbies
Ignacio Bonsembiante (Uni-Norths Owls)
James Bundy (Canberra Royals)
Billy Carberry (Tuggeranong Vikings)
Tauati Chan-Tung (Wests Rugby Club)
Stirling Doyle (Uni-Norths Owls)
Tony Mika Eli (Queanbeyan Whites)
Will Goddard (Queanbeyan Whites)
Thomas Hallam (Canberra Royals)
Turi Eruera Hides (Tuggeranong Vikings)
Wyll Holland (Queanbeyan Whites)
Tom Iles (Canberra Royals)
Fred Kaihea (Queanbeyan Whites)
Jack Kearns (Adfa)
Petau Lefau (Queanbeyan Whites)
Noah Lolesio (Tuggeranong Vikings)
Lachlan Lonergan (Tuggeranong Vikings)
Ben Love (Uni-Norths Owls)
Jean-Benit Madjaga (Tuggeranong Vikings)
Ali Ngahe (Gungahlin Eagles)
Lachlan Osborne (Uni-Norths Owls)
Yabaki Seeto (Queanbeyan Whites)
Lincoln Smith (Canberra Royals)
Seamus Smith (Tuggeranong Vikings)
Cooper Taekata (Tuggeranong Vikings)
Allan Wratten (Wests Rugby Club)
Force
Victor Harris Joondalup Brothers
Lee Soa Palmyra
Dylan Hutchins Wests Scarborough
Tyron Law Palmyra
Jarrod McKenna Wanneroo Districts
Lafaele Ikenasio Coastal Cavaliers
Liam Fletcher Joondalup Brothers
Martin Gallagher Wests Scarborough
Jackson Pugh Palmyra
Oliver Callan Wanneroo Districts
Liam Gourlie Joondalup Brothers
Simon Parsons Wests Scarborough
Carlo Tizzano UWA
Brody Macaskill Wests Scarborough
Reece Anapu UWA
Michael McDonald Palmyra
Tyrese Grey Wanneroo Districts
Ethan Reilly Wanneroo Districts
Marcus Arrindell Palmyra
Sam Barsby Joondalup Brothers
Nika Morehu Wests Scarborough
Grason Makara Wanneroo Districts
Jake Gardiner Kalamunda
James Petherick Coastal Cavaliers
Jack Hardy UWA
Rebels
Isaac Aedo Kailea (Harlequins)
Shaedyn Folau (Endeavour Hills)
Oli Barden (Moorabbin)
Ola Tauelangi (Northern)
Tom Jeffries
Tobias Sanerive (Harlequins)
Liam Stone (Melbourne Uni)
Josh Nakubuwai (Power House)
Maximilian O’Brien (Melbourne)
Angus Edwards
Harry Kolio Mau (Endeavour Hills)
Sione Tui (Melbourne
Mosese Tuipoluto (Harlequins)
Lazarus Afaese
Navarre Haisila (Endeavour Hills)
Chris Mounga (Endeavour Hills)
Sam Blowers (Harlequins)
Nick Roostan (Harlequins)
Alexander Ataata (Harlequins)
Joseph Basser (Melbourne Uni)
Moses Faoala (Endeavour Hills)
Luan Scherman (Northern)
Jamarl Firebrace
Mayson Hoverd (Power House)
Alpha Villi
Barbarians
Nathan Beil QLD
Jack Brewer NSW
Matt Connor QLD
Max Cutrone NSW
Vinnie De Masson ACT
Dylan Dowling NSW
Joel Etherington NSW
Byron Hollingsworth-Dessent ACT
Kristian Jensen ACT
Rory Kuskie QLD
Shea Lalagavesi QLD
Henry Lennon QLD
Callum MacDonald QLD
Emmanuel (Manny) Maliko QLD
Zane Marolt ACT
Kye Oates QLD
Liam Prendagast QLD
Simon Rahme NSW
Max Robson NSW
Rory Scott ACT
James Sidery NSW
Phrancis Sula-Siaosi QLD
Emosi Tuqiri QLD
Tiko Twist ACT
Finn Wright NSW
