Brumbies and Force name sides for World Club 10s

Tue, Jun 14, 2016, 9:14 AM
Matt Lewis
by Matt Lewis
Michael Dowsett has been named in the Brumbies squad for the World Club 10s. Photo: ARU Media/Stu Walmsley
Michael Dowsett has been named in the Brumbies squad for the World Club 10s. Photo: ARU Media/Stu Walmsley

While the Wallabies are preparing to go head-to-head with England in the second Test this weekend, a handful of players from the Brumbies and Western Force are getting some match fitness in the World Club 10s in Mauritius.

The World Club 10s features teams from Super Rugby, The English Premiership and France’s Top 14 in a two-day tournament.

The Brumbies finished runners-up to the Blues in 2014 under Stephen Larkham and have named another strong side full of experienced Super Rugby players as they look to go one better.

Brumbies forwards coach Dan McKellar who will lead the squad for the tournament and believes the experience of seven squad members who have played the tournament previously will be a huge advantage.

“We’re taking a squad that will be very competitive," McKellar said.

"We learned a lot from the 10s in Singapore a couple of years ago and are fortunate that a number of players from that squad know what to expect in Mauritius. As we learned in Singapore, every match is crucial in deciding who we play in the finals on the second day of competition, so we won’t be taking any opponent lightly.

“We’re looking forward to testing ourselves against Toulon in the opening match and I think fans will enjoy seeing us go head-to-head with one of Europe’s top sides. We’ll be hoping to take some good form into our following match against Force, who we know quite well, before rounding out our pool against the Italian All Stars.”

The Western Force have named five contracted Super Rugby players in their 16-man squad with former Australia U20s stars Oliver Hoskins and Brad Lacey named.

The tournament features eight teams across two pools with the Brumbies and Force in Pool A alongside Toulon and the Italian All Stars.

Brumbies Team: Albert Anae, Leslie Leulua’iali’i-Makin, Ruan Smith, Robbie Abel, Josh Mann-Rea, Blake Enever, Jarrad Butler, Jordan Smiler, Michael Wells, Michael Dowsett, Brent Hamlin, Robbie Coleman, James Dargaville, Nigel Ah Wong, Lausii Taliauli, Aidan Toua

Force Team: Oliver Hoskins, Tom Sheminant, Mees Erasmus, Tom Sexton, Riley Winter, Rickus Van Der Heyden, Tevin Ferris, Kane Kateka, Michael Ruru, Gus Taylor, Naude Wessels, Onehunga Havili, Eric Vaskicacau, Ammon Matuauto, Jarome Leonard-Tekanawa, Brad Lacey World Club 10s, Anjalay Stadium, Mauritius June 18-19, 2016

Pool A

RC Toulon (France)

Aquis Brumbies (Australia)

Italian All Stars (Italy)

Western Force (Australia)

Pool B

Cell C Sharks (South Africa)

Africa Pacific Dragons (Pacific/Africa)

Stade Francais Paris (France)

Saracens (England)

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