Australian Schools Championships 2006
National Schoolboy Rugby talent on show this week in Sydney
July 04, 2006 - 12:15pm
Story by: ARU
Australia's best young Rugby players in action at the Novotel Australian Schools Championship
Australia's best young Rugby players will battle it out in Sydney this week in the 2006 Novotel Australian Schools Championship, which kicked off at St Ignatius College, Riverview at midday today.
The annual Championship allows the country's best schoolboy players to go up against their toughest interstate opponents and push for national selection, while also giving the ARU's High Performance Unit a platform for identifying new talent and ensuring the best pathways are in place to encourage and develop up-and-coming players.
The Championship is also designed to educate and assist players about off-field aspects of the game including diet, fitness testing and recovery techniques.
At the conclusion of the tournament the Australia A Schoolboys and Australian Schoolboys sides to play Tongan Schools on August 15 (Canberra) and August 19 (Sydney) respectively, will be selected.
Some interesting notes
* Six 2005 Australian Schoolboys will play at this year's Championship - Chris Harkins (ACT); Andrew Barrett, Kurtley Beale, Peter Betham, Rowan Kellam (all NSW I); Quade Cooper (QLD I).
* Five players at the Championship also played for the Australia A Schoolboys in 2005 - Chris Harkins (ACT), Rowan Kellam, Daniel Palmer (both NSW I), Mitchell Inman, Tom Norval (both NSW II).
* ACT flanker Seilala Lam is the brother of 2005 Australian Schoolboys utility Jack Lam.
* NSW I forward Tom Coolican is the nephew of Classic Wallaby John Coolican, who played four Tests for Australia at prop from 1982-1983.
* Four players are appearing for NSW I for the second consecutive year - Andrew Barrett, Kurtley Beale, Alastair Clifton and Rowan Kellam.
* NSW II inside centre Mitchell Inman is the brother of Australian Sevens and former NSW Waratah Luke Inman.
* NSW II winger Afusipa Taumoepeau is the brother of former Australian Schoolboys Number 8 and Captain (2004) Pauliasi Taumoepeau.
* Tighthead prop Mosa Afu, who plays for Queensland I, is related to 2005 Australian Schoolboys backrower Josh Afu, who also attended Brisbane State High School.
* Queensland II lock Rob Gray has also represented his state in volleyball and is following in the footsteps of his brother Andrew, who played at the Schools Championship in recent years.
* Queensland II hooker Kane Hollingsworth and flanker Kerryn Blake toured New Zealand last year with the National Indigenous team.
* Queensland II's 23rd man, Michael Lynagh is a National 400m age champion. He is no relation to former Wallaby Michael Lynagh, who never played at the Schools Championship, missing the 1981 tournament through injury.
* Queensland II assistant coach Ian Jones recently coached professionally in France at Clermont-Ferrand in the French Division One and Heineken Cup tournaments.
Division I Championships
The 31st Division One Australian Schools Rugby Union Championships will be staged at St Ignatius College, Riverview in Sydney from Tuesday 4 July to Sunday 9 July 2006.
Six teams will take part in the competition, NSW I, Queensland II, Combined States, Queensland I, NSW II and ACT.
The teams will compete in two pools of three teams with the winners of each pool progressing to the final on Sunday 9 July 2006.
Pool A contains NSW I, Queensland II and Combined States.
Pool B includes Queensland I, NSW II and ACT.
The Championships draw is as follows:
Novotel Australian Schools Championships 2006
4 July 2006
1:30pm NSW I v Queensland II
3:00pm NSW II v ACT
5 July 2006
1:30pm Queensland I v NSW II
3:00pm Combined States v Queensland II
7 July 2006
1:30pm NSW I v Combined States
3:00pm Queensland I v ACT
9 July 2006
10:00am 3rd Pool A v 3rd Pool B
11:20am 2nd Pool A v 2nd Pool B
Final 12:40pm Winner Pool A v Winner Pool B
For more infomation, visit the Australian Rugby Football Schools Union website. http://austschools.rugbynet.com.au/
