Reds' Schatz leads junior Aussies
Reds back row forward Jake Schatz will captain the Australian Under-20 team at the IRB Junior World Championships in Argentina next month.
His appointment follows an outstanding debut season in Super Rugby for the 19-year-old, who played at all three back row positions in his nine appearances for the Reds this year.
“Jake has been an invaluable member of the Reds this season and for a guy his age, he has shown tremendous maturity as a player. His selection as captain of the Australian Under 20s is great recognition of that,” Reds coach Ewen McKenzie said.
“He’s a player who leads by his actions and he has shown that over the course of the year. Having players coming through with that approach on and off the field is a good sign for the future of the Reds.”
Schatz is one of nine players with Reds or Reds Academy experience in Australia’s 26-man squad, with New South Wales having the next largest contingent with eight players, the Australian Capital Territories supplying five and West Australia four.
Along with Schatz, Reds wing and 2009 Wallaby tourist Luke Morahan played Super Rugby this season, while Australian Sevens stars Liam Gill, Ed Quirk, Kimami Sitauti and Dom Shipperley are all long time Academy prospects recently signed to senior Reds’ contracts from 2011.
Other Academy players named in the squad are prop Paul Alo-Emile, fullback Aidan Toua and flyhalf Jono Lance.
Australia kicks off its campaign with a pool match against Scotland in Santa Fe on Saturday, June 5, before matches against Tonga in Parana (June 9) and South Africa in Santa Fe (June 13).
Should Australia progress through their pool matches they will play a semifinal on June 17, with the final scheduled for June 21 at Estadio El Coloso del Parque in Rosario.
Australian:
Forwards: Cruze Ah-Nau (West Australia), Paul Alo-Emile (Queensland), Phoenix Battye (New South Wales), Colby Faingaa (Australian Capital Territories), Liam Gill (Queensland), Michael Hooper (Australian Capital Territories), Luke Jones (West Australia), Salesi Manu (New South Wales), Gregory Peterson (New South Wales), Edward Quirk (Queensland), Sam Roberson (New South Wales), Siliva Siliva (West Australia), Scott Sio (New South Wales), Jake Schatz (Queensland, captain).
Backs: Tim Bennetts (New South Wales), Robbie Coleman (Australian Capital Territories), Greg Jeloudev (New South Wales), Jonathon Lance (Queensland), Cameron Mitchell (New South Wales), Dominic Shipperley (Queensland), Kimami Sitauti (Queensland), Aidan Toua (Queensland), Matt Toomua (Australian Capital Territories, vice-captain), Luke Morahan (Queensland), Justin Turner (West Australia), Nic White (Australian Capital Territories).
