The NSW Country Eagles open their 2015 campaign against the Rams (Image: Getty)
CSU NSW Country Eagles coach Darren Coleman has named his initial playing squad ahead of this year’s Buildcorp National Rugby Championship.
Nine players return from last year’s campaign, that saw the Eagles fall short in a home semi final in Gosford to eventual champions Brisbane City, whilst five players have been promoted from last year’s development program.
Dubbo junior and Queensland Reds flanker Beau Robinson spearheads an exciting Eagles forward pack and will be joined by Will Miller (Nowra) and NSW Country Cockatoo Pauli Tuala in the back row.
Australian U20’s representatives Tom Staniforth (West Wyalong) and Ned Hanigan (Coonamble) will join the Eagles in 2015, as will Waratahs recruit Sam Lousi and Irish international Tom Sexton.
In the backs, Waratahs and Randwick young guns Andrew Kellaway and Dave Horwitz will link with Dave Harvey and Jono Lance with Charlie Clifton (Bathurst), Tom Merrit (Byron Bay) and Jarome McKenzie all expected to add plenty of speed out wide.
Mick Snowden (Tamworth), Josh Mann-Rea (Narromine) and John Grant (Cowra) were all ruled out through season ending injury.
The Eagles open their 2015 NRC campaign against the Greater Sydney Rams on August 22, ahead of playing home matches in Sydney, Tamworth, Newcastle and Bathurst.
CSU NSW Country Eagles – 2015 Buildcorp NRC squad
Mark Baldwin – Camden
Brogan Roods – Randwick
Charlie Clifton – Bathurst
Michael Dowsett – Brumbies
Nicholas Palmer – Newcastle
Samuel Figg – Randwick
Tom Merritt – Byron Bay
Tom Sexton – Rebels
Tom Staniforth – West Wyalong/Brumbies
Will Fay – Eastern Suburbs
Dave Faeo – Brisbane
Dane Marakai – Manly
Dashville Kuate – Randwick
Andrew Collins – Manly
Ryan Dalziel – Eastern Suburbs
Ned Hanigan – Coonamble
Sam Lousi – Waratahs
Sam Croke – Lennox Head
Will Miller – Nowra
Tyrone Viiga – Eastern Suburbs
Pauli Tuala – Wollongong
Beau Robinson – Dubbo
Jock Merriman – Boorowa
David Harvey – West Harbour
Jono Lance – Canberra
Ed Stubbs – Eastern Suburbs
David Horwitz – Randwick
Jarome Mckenzie – Eastern Suburbs
Andrew Kellaway – Randwick
Joel Brooks – West Harbour
