Australian Rugby Union has announced Adrian Thompson (head coach) and Sean Hedger (assistant coach) as the Australian Under-20 coaches for the 2013 IRB Junior World Championship being held in France in June.
Thompson, the current forwards coach at the ARU National Academy in Brisbane, has more than 10 years coaching experience, which includes stints with premier-grade sides Easts and Brothers, as well as with the Queensland Reds and Australia A.
Hedger, who is currently at the helm of the ARU National Academy in Sydney, has nearly 10 years’ experience, most recently as head coach of Japanese club Kyuden Voltex in 2011-12.
The coaches were named ahead of the first Australian Under-20 selection camp being held at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra from Monday 18 to Thursday 21 February, with Thompson keen to get preparations underway for June.
“We’ll be bringing a group of 50 players into this camp and many of them will attend all our camps,” Thompson said.
“These are great opportunities to see a lot of these guys and get a good idea of where their skills are at.”
This is the first of three selection camps which will be held over the coming months and will have a focus on core skills and fitness testing.
The Australian age-grade program has long been a developmental stepping stone for future Wallabies, with the likes of Will Genia, David Pocock, Rob Simmons, James Slipper, Rob Horne and Kurtley Beale all making their way through the program early in their careers.
“Obviously you want to be successful at the tournament, but long-term the Australian Under-20 program is all about developing depth and helping build these players into professional footballers,” Thompson said.
Next week’s camp features six members of the 2012 Australian Under-20 squad, with Alan Alaalatoa, Oliver Hoskins, Silatolu Latu, Jock Merriman, Maile Nguamo and Sam Reiser all invited to attend.
It also features seven members of the Australian Schools squad which toured Fiji and New Zealand last year, culminating in a 16-14 win over New Zealand Schools in Auckland.
Australian Schools 2012 players Jack Dempsey, Adam Korcyk, Jake McIntyre, Jonah Placid, Angus Pulver, Andrew Robinson and Tom Staniforth will be in attendance next week.
The camp will feature 50 under-20 players vying for a spot in the final 28-player squad bound for France later this year.
The IRB Junior World Championship runs 5-23 June in France, where Australia will face New Zealand, Fiji and Ireland in pool play.
ARU National Academy side to face Queensland Reds
Name
Club
Hometown
1
Allan Alaalatoa
West Harbour
Jamberoo
2
Paul Asquith
Southern Districts
Menangle
3
Mark Baldwin
Randwick
Pacific Pines
4
Dean Cooper
Gold Coast Breakers
Strathfield
5
Jack Debreczeni
West Harbour
West Pymble
6
Jack Dempsey
Gordon
Dee Why
7
Rhys Dombkins
Manly
Taralga
8
Carl Elliot
Western Lions
Sorrento-Bundall
9
Sam Fattal
West Harbour
Manly
10
Lalakai Foketi
Manly
Woodridge
11
Faeo Fotuaika
Sunnybank Dragons
Carlingford
12
Michael Freeman
Norths
Clayfield
13
Sam Greene
Wests
Gymea
14
Albert Hemopo
Southern Districts
Vaucluse
15
David Horwitz
Randwick
Subiaco
16
Oli Hoskins
Manly (Perth)
Mosman
17
Chris Ingate
Sydney University
Bronte
18
Jack Johnson
Randwick
Northgate
19
Samu Kerevi
Gps
Boondall
20
Phil Kite
Gps
Yeronga
21
Adam Korcyk
University Of Qld
Botany
22
Silatolu Latu
Sydney University
Gold Coast
23
Connor Malan
Gold Coast Breakers
Alstonville
24
Jake McIntyre
Fig Tree Pocket
25
Ben Meehan
Sunnybank
Ipswich
26
Simon Mikaele
Easts
Boorowa
27
Jock Merriman
Sydney University
Boondall
28
Jake Milne
Gps
Buderim
29
Connor Mitchell
University Of Qld
Daisy Hill
30
Andy Muirhead
Souths (Brisbane)
Daisy Hill
31
Maile Ngaumo
Sunny Bank
Forestville
32
Alex Northam
Manly
Paddington
33
Harry Parker
University Of Qld
Fisher
34
Joel Penders
Canberra Royals
Avalon
35
Matt Philip
Sydney University
Mt Gravatt
36
Jonah Placid
Easts
Queanbeyan
37
GP Pretorius
Queanbeyan Whites
Mosman
38
Angus Pulver
Sydney University
Albion
39
Andrew Ready
Easts Tigers
Bardon
40
Sam Reiser
University Of Qld
Conder
41
Andrew Robinson
Tuggeranong Vikings
Woodridge
42
TJ Sikisini
Gold Coast Breakers
Lindcombe
43
Pat Sio
Northern Suburbs
Kambah
44
Tom Staniforth
Acacia Ridge
45
Henry Taefu
Sunnybank
Mount Claremont
46
Scott Tolmie
Associates
Stanmore
47
Tevita Vea
Randwick
Murrumba Downs
48
Terrin Walls
University Of Qld
Turramurra
49
Michael Wells
Norths
Gymea
50
Waldo Wessels
Southern Districts
Gymea
