Rugby Australia have revealed a preliminary 45-man Australia U20 squad ahead of the expanded 2024 international schedule.
Australia will host the inaugural Under-20 Rugby Championship in May 2024, with each of the four TRC nations set to participate in the new annual age-grade tournament.
The Australian team will meet in Canberra next February for their first camp, where head coach Nathan Grey along with assistants Shannon Fraser and the recently appointed Laurie Fisher will look to build on strong recent form from the young Australian athletes. The coaches will be actively involved in the players’ development and training ahead of the international season.
“We are excited with the talent that has emerged from this year’s Super Rugby Men’s U19 tournament, and we believe the players we have selected have the potential to make a significant impact on the international stage,” Grey said.
“Our coaching team is dedicated to providing them with the support and guidance they need to flourish and represent Australia with pride.”
The tournament will be played in May and serve as crucial preparation for the 2024 World Rugby U20 Championship in South Africa.
Earlier in 2023, the Australian U20 team split a two-match series with New Zealand on the eastern side of the Tasman, before meeting the Baby Blacks once more in the 5th Place semi-final of the 2023 U20 World Championship.
Australia claimed victory in that match 44-35 and went on to beat Wales to finish fifth in the tournament. Grey has named a side he hopes can improve on those results in 2024.
Australia U20 Premilinary Squad for 2024
Forwards
Jack Barrett – Waratahs
Bryn Edwards – Waratahs
Jackson Stiel – Waratahs
Harvey Cordukes – Brumbies
Toby Macpherson – Brumbies
Dane Sawers – Force
Lachlan Hooper – Brumbies
Pat Sowerby – Reds
Sam Sahyoun- Brumbies
Tevita Alatini – Brumbies
Ollie McCrea – Waratahs
Charlie Brosnan – Reds
Joe Liddy – Reds
Arnie Tancred – Waratahs
Judah Saumaisue – Rebels
Macarius Pereira – Reds
Boston Morete – Brumbies
Drew Brndusic – Brumbies
Pat Gavin – Reds
Caleb Karangaroa – Force
Ben Di Staso – Waratahs
Manaia Tetana – Force
Jack Harley – Brumbies
Lington Leli – Brumbies
Backs
Dan Nelson – Brumbies
Cullen Gray – Brumbies
Lleyten Tautua – Brumbies
Divad Palu – Rebels
Jackson Ropata – Waratahs
Archie Saunders – Waratahs
Will McCulloch – Reds
Doug Philipson – Force
Joey Fowler – Rebels
Jakob Biet – Brumbies
Jullien Caillol – Waratahs
Kauri Tipene-Grace – Force
Angus Staniforth – Brumbies
Billy Dickens – Waratahs
Will Nason – Reds
Jarrah McLeod – Brumbies
Frankie Goldsbrough – Reds
Tiam Toufan – Force
Shane Wilcox – Brumbies
Eli Sagala – Brumbies
Thomas Hayes – Brumbies
Not considered due to injury or Super Rugby Pacific commitments
Oniti Finau
Trevor King
Nick Bloomfield
Ben Daniels
Leafi Talataina
Dom Thygesen
Ryan McGloin
Max Jorgensen
Harry McLaughlin-Phillips
Ronan Leahy
Source link: https://www.rugbypass.com/news/preliminary-australian-u20-squad-for-2024-announced/
