NSW Waratahs centre Zach Fittler is one of several new faces included as part of a 40-player Australia U18s development squad ahead of a tour of New Zealand.
The squad will come together in Canberra later this month ahead of matches against NZ Barbarians and NZ Secondary Schools at the start of October.
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Fittler is the son of NRL great Brad and has impressed in the Waratahs system, featuring in the U16s NSW team that won the national championships in 2022.
He is joined by fellow fresh inclusion Heamasi Makaiani, who has attracted major interest from both rugby codes after impressing for Australia U16s last year.
The pair have been added to July's initial squad following strong performances for their schools.
“Those guys are rugby players at the moment and there are a lot of players who have more than one option in their footballing careers. They’ve competed really well for their schools and it’s a good reward for them to be able to play within this group and compete at this level and to experience playing Rugby for Australia across on New Zealand soil,” coach Shannon Fraser told Rugby.com.au
“There's a few from north of the border as well we’ve added that have competed really hard in the last three or four weeks of their school and club comps so it’s a good reward for them.”
Reds centre Frankie Goldsbrough continues his development after being named in Queensland’s full-time Super Rugby Pacific squad to start the year, eventually representing Australia U20s at the World Championships in South Africa.
“Frankie’s an amazing talent and been well recognised by the Reds in where they put in their squads,” Fraser said.
“He’s coming off the back of a really good exposure into the Australian under-20s program. He's been playing some premier-grade footy up in Brisbane and this is an opportunity for him to show the depth of his ability among his peers. He'll represent Australia on New Zealand soil and we'll expect him to be a senior player in this group and a leader through his actions.”
The squad will be narrowed down to 26 before they head to New Zealand, with Fraser eager to see how this group goes against their Kiwi counterparts.
“It's been something that we've been working through since February with the Under-18 Games and Academy Games in February around the States,” he added.
“There's been a lot of work that's gone into sort of narrowing down this squad of 40 and it's a really important opportunity to sort of get these guys in together for a couple of days, compete hard against each other.
“I think that the cream will rise to the top and the 26 that we do take to New Zealand are going to be a really competitive group.”
Angus Grover - St Ignatius College, Riverview
Avery Thomson - GPS Rugby Club
Bennett Armistead - Nudgee College
Blaze Moana - The Southport School
Charlie Poynton - Barker College
Dylan Bretton - Wests Rugby Club
Edwin Langi - Eastern Suburbs
Eli Langi - Brisbane State High School
Ewald Kruger - GPS Rugby Club
Finn Mackay - St Laurence's College
Frankie Goldsbrough - Easts Rugby Club
Hayden Lavercombe - The King's School
Heamasi Makasini - Newington College
Heinz Lemoto - The Scots College
Isaac Fonua - The King's School
Jacob Johnson - Nudgee College
Jay McKenzie - The Scots College
John Grenfell - Nudgee College
Jonty Fowler - St Joseph's College
Josh Takai - Brothers Rugby Club
Kingsley Uys - The Southport School
Leo Jaques - The Scots College
Lewis Wilson - St Augustine's College
Louis Fenwicke - The King's School
Luca Cleverley - Newington College
Marshall Le Maitre - The Shore School
Nathaniel Thomas - Barker College
Nick Conway - Nudgee College
Nick Hill - Barker College
Noah Rylands - St Augustine's College
Rex Bassingthwaite - The Shore School
Sam Blank - St Augustine's College
TJ Talaileva - Barker College
Toby Brial - The Scots College
Tom Goldie - The Southport School
Tom Hartman - St Ignatius College, Riverview
Tom Howard - Marist College
Tom Robinson - UQ Rugby Club
Will Ross - Padua College
Zach Fittler - The Scots College
