NSW Waratahs centre Zach Fittler has been added to the Australia U20s squad ahead of their U20 Rugby Championship campaign later in the month.
He is joined by Waratahs teammate Nick Hill in place of Kingsley Uys, ruled out with injury.
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Fittler is one of two changes to the squad that defeated Fiji U20s and Japan U23, having originally joined the team as cover.
He missed the game against the Japanese due to a hamstring complaint, but has been cleared to fly with the squad to South Africa.
It comes after Uys went off injured during their 38-24 victory in Coffs Harbour, with the Reds prop emerging as one of the brightest stars out of the Australia U18s winning campaign of 2024 and 2025.
“We are looking forward to taking the momentum from our week-long camp in Coffs Harbour and building upon it with three tough games in South Africa,” coach Chris Whitaker said.
"The Rugby Championship U20 provides us with another opportunity to continue developing as a team against top opposition in unique circumstances.
"Our group is ready to embrace the challenge and are excited to get the chance to represent Australia on the international stage."
Queensland Reds flanker Tom Robinson skippered them to victory on the weekend and was hoping to build off their success in South Africa.
“It was a good way to start building momentum heading into the TRC,” he told Rugby.com.au
“We’re trying to build combos, which is tough, but we’ve been together for a few years now through 18s and 20s, so we lean on that, and even after 10 days, you get to know each other pretty well, and these extra games are crucial for those combos.
It begins on April 27, with the Aussies harnessing the spirit of the ANZACs as they take on New Zealand.
They will then face hosts South Africa (May 3) and Argentina (May 9), set to come together as a group on Friday before flying out.
“There's a lot of belief within the group. We know that it won’t just happen, we’ve got to do the right things to put ourselves in position to win games,” Robinson believes.
“Just heading into camp, you sense the belief in the group if we do things how we’re planning, there’s some good results there for us.”
ACT Brumbies
Ewald Kruger - Hooker
Tavita Loughland - Lock
Cooper Eagle - Backrow
Eli Langi - Backrow
Chayse Geros - Scrumhalf/Wing
Riley Whitfeld - Centre/Wing
Western Force
Jasper Asi - Prop
Queensland Reds
Jacob Job - Prop
Jonah Rangiwai - Prop
Charlie Hollyman - Hooker
Kenneth Harris - Lock
Will Ross - Lock
Tom Robinson - Backrow
Finn Mackay - Flyhalf
Frankie Goldsbrough - Centre
Taione Taka - Centre/Wing
NSW Waratahs
Edwin Langi - Prop
Harper Strachan - Prop
Nick Hill - Prop
Tyler Maybery - Hooker
Isaac Fonua - Lock/Backrow
Luca Cleverley - Backrow
Marshall Le Maitre - Backrow
Toby Brial - Backrow
Angus Grover - Scrumhalf
Sam Blank - Scrumhalf
Jonty Fowler - Flyhalf
Zach Fittler - Centre
Cooper Watters - Centre/Wing
Leo Jaques - Centre/Wing
Louis Fenwicke - Centre/Fullback
Unavailable for selection
Dylan Bretton - (Brumbies, injury)
Oscar Cleary - (Brumbies, injury)
Felix Cooper - (Force, injury)
Manaia Te Tana (Force, injury)
Bennett Armistead (Reds, injury)
John Grenfell - (Reds, injury)
Kingsley Uys - (Reds, injury)
Nicholas Conway - (Reds, injury)
Treyvon Pritchard - (Reds, SRP commitments)
Dylan Simmons (Waratahs, injury)
Ed Kasprowicz (Waratahs, injury)
Tom Farr-Jones (Waratahs, injury)
Wallace Charlie (AU Sevens)
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Australia U20 Rugby Championship Schedule:
All 3 matches played at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Gqeberha
- Matchday 1: Australia U20 v New Zealand U20 on Monday 27 April at 10:00 pm (AEST)
- Matchday 2: Australia U20 v South Africa U20 on Monday 4 May at 12:10 am (AEST)
- Matchday 3: Australia U20 v Argentina U20 on Saturday 9 May at 10:00 pm (AEST)
