Junior Wallabies coach Nathan Grey has confirmed a 30-player squad for the upcoming Oceania U20 Championships.
The squad is headlined by Reds scrumhalf Kalani Thomas and Rebels flyer Lukas Ripley as they look to defend their title from 2019.
They are joined by Sevens standouts Ben Dowling and Darby Lancester, with Dowling returning after his heroics in London.
Siosifa Amone, Luke Callan (WA), Thomas, Floyd Aubrey, Mac Grealy (QLD), Teddy Wilson, Adrian Brown (NSW) and Titi Nofoagatatoa (ACT) are amongst a host of returning players from 2021 prior to the competition’s cancellation due to COVID-19 restrictions.
“Over the duration of the two camps to date, over 60 players have had the opportunity to train and push their claim for a spot in the final squad,” Grey said in a statement.
“The final decision on who was included was difficult and that is what we wanted.
“Every player chosen has been extremely impressive playing in each of their respective competitions in the first half of this year.
“The whole side is itching to get out and represent their country, more so now than ever with many players having to wait almost two years to pull on the gold jersey.
“After a long stint of disruptions, the squad has had two camps together this year, and the side is looking well prepared for the tournament ahead.
“We will be looking at this last camp in Longreach to start to work on our combinations and start to put together the finishing touches before we go into competition.”
The squad is comprised of two ACT Brumbies, 12 NSW Waratahs, seven Queensland Reds, five Melbourne Rebels and four from the Western Force – either from within the Super Rugby squads, or their respective academies.
The team will assemble in Brisbane before travelling to Longreach for camp on Saturday 11 June before heading back to the Sunshine Coast for their first match of the U20s Tournament on Friday 1 July against newcomers Fiji.
They will then face Fiji on 5 July before resuming their rivalry with New Zealand on Sunday 10 July.
Junior Wallabies v Argentina, Friday 1 July 2022, 7:00pm AEST
Junior Wallabies v Fiji, Tuesday 5 July 2022, 4:00pm AEST
Junior Wallabies v New Zealand, Sunday 10 July 2022, 4:00pm AEST
Siosifa Amone (Western Force, Associates)
Taj Annan (Queensland Reds, Easts)
Floyd Aubrey (Queensland Reds, GPS)
Nick Baker (Queensland Reds, GPS)
Jayden Blake (NSW Waratahs, Randwick)
Jack Bowen (NSW Waratahs, Eastern Suburbs)
Adrian Brown (NSW Waratahs, Eastwood)
Luke Callan (Western Force, Wanneroo)
Jamie Clark (NSW Waratahs, Sydney University)
Max Craig (Queensland Reds, Easts)
Ben Dowling (NSW Waratahs, Randwick)
Lopeti Faifui (Queensland Reds, Wests)
George Gibson (NSW Waratahs, Southern Districts)
Mason Gordon (Melbourne Rebels, Wests)
Mac Grealy (Queensland Reds, University of Queensland)
Zac Hough (Melbourne Rebels, Wests)
Darby Lancaster (NSW Waratahs, Eastern Suburbs)
Remsy Lemisio (Brumbies, Tuggeranong Vikings)
Daniel Maiava (Melbourne Rebels, Wyndham Rhinos)
Thomas Maka (NSW Waratahs, Gordon)
Titi Nofoagatotoa (Brumbies, Tuggeranong Vikings)
Henry O’Donnell (NSW Waratahs, Sydney University)
Lukas Ripley (Melbourne Rebels, University of Queensland)
Connor Seve (Western Force, Wests Scarborough)
Ned Slack-Smith (Western Force, Warringah)
Paddy Tagg (NSW Waratahs, Sydney University)
Kalani Thomas (Queensland Reds, University of Queensland)
David Vaihu (Melbourne Rebels, Wests)
Mitch Watts (NSW Waratahs, Randwick)
Teddy Wilson (NSW Waratahs, Eastern Suburbs)
