Australian U20’s Head Coach Adrian Thompson has today announced his squad for next month’s World Rugby U20 Championship in Italy.
After falling to New Zealand in the final of the Oceania Junior Rugby Championship on Saturday, the squad has been bolstered for the World Rugby U20 Championship with the return of RaboDirect Melbourne Rebels flier Jonah Placid.
The 28-man squad features strong Asteron Life Super Rugby and Qantas Australian Sevens experience with Placid being joined by Lolo Fakaosilea, Michael Gunn and Adam Korcyzk from the Queensland Reds, Andrew Kellaway from the NSW Waratahs and Brad Wilkin from the Qantas 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 16 May, 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 2 June.
Australian U20’s World Championship Squad:
Cameron
Orr
West Harbour
NSW
Folau
Faingaa
Sydney University
NSW
Matthew
Sandell
Sydney University
NSW
Ned
Hanigan
Randwick
NSW
Olly
Kamp
Randwick
NSW
Andrew
Deegan
Randwick
NSW
Andrew
Kellaway
Randwick
NSW
Alex
Newsome
Eastern Suburbs
NSW
Lukhan
Lealaiauloto-Tui
Randwick
NSW
Tyson
Davis
Warringah
NSW
Sam
Croke
Randwick
NSW
Conrad
Quick
Sunnybank
QLD
Campbell
Magnay
GPS
QLD
Aaron
Pleash
University of QLD
QLD
Adam
Korczyk
University of QLD
QLD
Lolo
Fakaosilea
Sunnybank
QLD
Michael
Gunn
Easts
QLD
Duncan
Paia’aua
GPS
QLD
James
Dalgleish
University of QLD
QLD
James
Tuttle
GPS
QLD
Harry
Nucifora
Bond University
QLD
Brad
Wilkin
Easts
QLD
Connal
McInerney
Tuggeranong
ACT
Tyrell
Lomax
Tuggeranong
ACT
Riley
Winter
Wests Scarborough
WA
Fereti
Saaga
Melbourne Uni
VIC
Sione
Tuipolotu
Southern Districts
VIC
Jonah
Placid
Melbourne Uni
VIC
