0
Australian Under 20s Coach Adrian Thompson today announced the extended National Squad to play Fiji and Samoa in April at Bond University on the Gold Coast, in preparation for the IRB Junior World Championships in New Zealand in June.
The squad of 33 players includes four contracted Super Rugby players, with Allen Alaalatoa (University of Canberra Brumbies), Luke Burton (Western Force), David Horwitz (NSW Waratahs), and Sean McMahon (RaboDirect Rebels) all potentially available for selection.
The squad announcement comes after a successful National Under 20s Championship last week in Canberra in which the NSW side emerged as champions following a tight match against Queensland 31-18.
Adrian Thompson is excited about his players having the opportunity to compete against two strong Pacific nations in the lead up to the IRB Junior World Championships.
“The matches against Fiji and Samoa on the Gold Coast will be an excellent opportunity for us to test players in positions and continue our selection process.”
“We are determined to improve on our seventh place in the IRB Junior World Championships in Paris last year. This squad knows there is a lot of hard work to come if they want to be selected in the squad heading to the competition in June.”
Australian Under 20s key dates 2014:
22 April-4 May 2014 International Preparation Tournament
Bond University, Gold Coast
20-29 May 2014 IRB Junior World Cup Assembly Camp
Narrabeen Academy of Sport, Sydney
30 May-21 June 2014 IRB Junior World Championship
Auckland, New Zealand
Australia Under 20s Extended Squad
1. Allan Alaalatoa ACT
Cameron Orr NSW
Tom Banks QLD
Jack Payne QLD
Luke Burton WA
Joel Penders ACT
Sam Croke NSW
Rowan Perry ACT
Andrew Deegan NSW
Matthew Philip NSW
Jack Dempsey NSW
Jonah Placid QLD
Lalakai Foketi VIC
Joseph Powell ACT
Scott Gale QLD
Angus Pulver NSW
Michael Gunn QLD
Tom Robertson NSW
Ross Haylett-Petty WA
Andrew Robinson ACT
David Horwitz NSW
Harry Scoble WA
Alifeliti Kaitu'u QLD
Pat Sio NSW
Andrew Kellaway NSW
Tom Staniforth ACT
Brad Lacy WA
Jimmy Stewart NSW
Jake McIntyre QLD
Johnny Vaux NSW
Sean McMahon VIC
Tevita Vea NSW
Rory O'Connor NSW