2007 Australian Rugby Shield Merit Team

June 15, 2007 - 9:33am
Story by: ARU

The Australian Rugby Union today named a 15-man merit team to mark the conclusion of this year’s Australian Rugby Shield.

The team was selected by the expert panel of former Wallaby captain and ARU General Manager of Community Rugby Geoff Shaw, former Waratahs selector Brian O’Shea, former Brumbies coach Bob Hitchcock and ARU Coach Education Manager Warren Robilliard.

The Merit team recognises the depth of talent displayed during the five rounds of the national tournament which wound up earlier this month..

The Melbourne Axemen took out the title in the final round of the tournament.

Five players from the Adelaide Black Falcons were selected in the squad, with a further three players selected from both the NSW Country Cockatoos and Queensland Country Heelers.

The Melbourne Axemen have two representatives while Darwin Mosquitoes prop David Tunstead and Tassie Jack Jumpers flanker Euan Bennett were also selected.

Candidates were chosen in each position after an assessment of each player’s individual skills, attitude, performance and work rate.

The player’s potential to be successful at a higher level was also given strong consideration by the selectors.

2007 ARS Merit Team

1 Scott Baker Melbourne

2 Brendan Bunyan Queensland Country

3 David Tunstead Darwin

4 Nick Lesberg NSW Country

5 Stephen Mulqueen Queensland Country

6 Matt Connor Adelaide

7 Euan Bennett Tasmania

8 Tim Mattin Adelaide

9 Paul Elliott NSW Country

10 Aaron Mattin Adelaide

11 Mikka Lawere Adelaide

12 Shane Lett Queensland Country

13 Tori Biddle Melbourne

14 Leith Cooper NSW Country

15 Andrew Farquharson Adelaide