Super Rugby boost for Aus U20

 

After falling to New Zealand in the final of the Oceania Junior Rugby Championship on Saturday, Australian U20 head coach Adrian Thompson announced his squad including the likes of Melbourne Rebels flyer Jonah Placid.

 

The 28-man squad features strong Super Rugby and Australian Sevens experience with Placid being joined by Lolo Fakaosilea, Michael Gunn, Campbell Magnay and Adam Korcyzk from the Queensland Reds, Andrew Kellaway from the NSW Waratahs and Brad Wilkin from the Australian Sevens squad.

 

Despite being unavailable to play in the Oceania Rugby Junior Championship final with a hamstring injury, Wilkin will join the squad after being cleared by the Australian medical team.

 

Thompson offered his congratulations to the players selected:

 

"The Oceania Rugby Junior Championship provided a great Test for our squad and has given us an ideal preparation for the World Championship.

 

"The return of our Super Rugby players adds key leadership and experience and we have strong depth across the squad."

 

The Australian side will reconvene at the Sydney Academy of Sport, Narrabeen to finalise preparations from Saturday May 16, ahead of a May 25 departure for Italy.

 

Having placed fifth in the 2014 tournament Australia has drawn last year’s runners up, South Africa, alongside host nation Italy and Samoa in a tough Pool B. The young Aussies’ first match will be against Samoa on Tuesday, June 2. 

 

Australian U20: Cameron Orr, Folau Faingaa, Matthew Sandell, Ned Hanigan, Olly Kamp, Andrew Deegan, Andrew Kellaway, Alex Newsome, Lukhan Lealaiauloto-Tui, Tyson Davis, SamCroke, Conrad Quick, Campbell Magnay, Aaron Pleash, Adam Korczyk, Lolo Fakaosilea, Michael Gunn, Duncan Paia’aua, James Dalgleish, James Tuttle, Harry Nucifora, Brad Wilkin, Connal McInerney, Tyrell Lomax, Riley Winter, Fereti Saaga, Sione Tuipolotu, Jonah Placid.