Four new faces were named this week by coach Robbie Deans for the Qantas Wallabies Spring Tour squad. James O’Connor and David Pocock from Western Force, Queensland Reds’ Quade Cooper and NSW Waratahs prop Sekope Kepu have all been called up, and head into camp on Monday, keen to meet up with the rest of the squad.
James O’Connor, who is poised to become the second youngest Wallabies player ever, is a product of St Joseph’s Nudgee College, and his selection will give inspiration to the teams taking part up there in next weeks’ National Under 16 Championships.
James also represented Australian Schoolboys, and today the Suncorp Australian Schoolboys squad commence their tour of Tonga and New Zealand, keen to continue with the impressive form displayed in their win over Fiji in the Bledisloe Cup curtain-raiser a fortnight ago.
In Women’s Rugby news, a 22 woman Wallaroos squad has been named for the upcoming two Test series against New Zealand’s Black Ferns in Canberra next month.
Don’t forget to vote in Australia’s Choice – 2008 Wallaby of the Year. The top five contenders for the John Eales Medal have been announced, and for this first time, you can vote for the player you believe has been the best and most consistent for the Qantas Wallabies.
Yours in Rugby,
Men of Gold
