Junior Wallabies announce squad for New Zealand series

Tue, May 16, 2023, 11:57 PM
Nathan Williamson
by Nathan Williamson

Junior Wallabies coach Nathan Grey has confirmed a 31-player squad for a two-Test series against New Zealand.

The Junior Wallabies will face the Kiwis at NZCIS in Wellington at 12pm (AEST) on Monday 29 May, before meeting again at Sky Stadium at 2.30pm on Saturday 3 June.

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The squad is headlined by returning Sevens star Darby Lancaster, who will join the group after the completion of the World Series.

Lancaster has emerged as one of the brightest talents on the Sevens circuit, scoring 20 tries in 34 matches in 2022-23.

The squad is stacked with Super Rugby talent, including Reds centre Taj Annan and Waratahs scrumhalf Teddy Wilson.

Annan is one of 11 Reds players in the squad that will go into camp on the Gold Coast from May 21.

Meanwhile, Wilson is joined by Waratahs teammate Jack Bowen, who made his Super Rugby Pacific debut against the Blues last month and Rebels forward Daniel Maiava.

Reds playmaker Tom Lynagh, Waratahs fullback Max Jorgensen and Force front-rower Marley Pearce were initially selected in the squad but will be unavailable for the NZ series due to their Super Rugby Pacific commitments.

"We're very excited about getting the squad together and testing ourselves against New Zealand, who always present a great challenge," Grey said in a statement.

"In particular the scheduling of the second game as a curtain-raiser to the Super Rugby Pacific fixture presents a valuable opportunity for the players to experience a big stadium and a big stage to perform on.

"Many of the players in this squad essentially picked themselves through the quality and consistency of their performances playing for their clubs over the last month.

"Super Rugby Pacific commitments have forced some changes but we have the benefit of being able to draw from an extended shadow squad of players who have been involved in the program to date.

"From all corners of Australia, they come together under the Junior Wallabies banner, to represent their country with pride and take a huge step in their development as Rugby players."

The second fixture of the series will be broadcast live on Stan Sport, serving as a curtain-raiser for the Hurricanes-Crusaders clash.

Junior Wallabies Squad 

Reds

Taj Annan (Souths)

John Bryant (Souths)

Ben Daniels (Brothers)

Nick Bloomfield (Easts)

Harrison Usher (Bond)

Jarrod Homan (Easts)

Tim Ryan (Brothers)

Nick Baker (GPS)

Trevor King (Souths)

Max Craig (Easts)

Harry McLaughlin-Phillips (Souths)

Rebels

Leafi Talataina (Endeavour Hills)

Mason Gordon (Wests Bulldogs)

David Vaihu (Wests Bulldogs)

Daniel Maiava (Wyndham Rhinos)

Brumbies

Liam Bowron (Royals)

Massimo De Lutiis (Wests)

Lachlan Hooper (Tuggeranong)

Klayton Thorn (Gungahlin)

Matias Jensen (Randwick)

Chris Mickelson (Uni-Norths)

Force

Ned Slack-Smith (Palmyra)

Jhy Legg (Wests Scarborough)

AU Sevens

Darby Lancaster (Eastern Suburbs)

Waratahs

Jack Barrett (Randwick)

Ollie McCrea (Eastern Suburbs)

Teddy Wilson (Eastern Suburbs)

Jack Bowen (Eastern Suburbs)

Henry O'Donnell (Northern Suburbs)

Jackson Ropata (Southern Districts)

Tom Morrison (Sydney Uni) *Tom Lynagh, Max Jorgensen and Marley Pearce initially selected but unavailable for the NZ series due to Super Rugby Pacific commitments

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