The final development competition of the 2025 domestic season gets under way, as Super Rugby U16s commences this weekend.
The competition represents a significant platform for young talent in New South Wales, the ACT, Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia, with teams set to represent all sides across four rounds of competition, with the final set for November 2nd.
The NSW Waratahs will be defending their title after the 2024 season saw them survive a fast-finishing Reds to win 31-29 at Ballymore in the final, and will be the benchmark for the other sides to defeat.
To open the 2025 season, the current champions will head down the Remembrance Driveway to face the Brumbies in Canberra as part of a triple header with the U19s and new senior competition, Super Rugby AUS.
The 2024 Runners Up the Reds will enjoy a bye to open the weekend, with the Force set to host Victoria at Tompkins Park in Perth in conjunction with their U19s and senior sides, rounding out the opening weekend.
Six Blacktown Scorpions will feature in a wide-reaching Waratahs side that will include players from the South Coast, Hunter, Western Sydney and the main Sydney metro area.
The Brumbies will feature Geoff Olivetti, who featured in three matches last year for the U16s side, while Daramalan lock Cooper Leslie will captain the side, following a stellar schoolboy season.
Oscar Brady, one of three players in the wider squad from regional NSW, will start at scrum half as the side looks to hit the ground running following their trial loss to Victoria last week.
The Force side will feature seven players from the Kalamunda Bulls, with Australia U16s alumni Kleine-Deters Ausage will skipper the side, with Joondalup loose forward Leeson Tiakia and Mandurah Pirates fly-half Kaiawha Heke named his vice-captains.
Joondalup’s Johan Oosthuizen will run on at scrum-half, teaming up with Pirates flyhalf Kaiawha Heke, while Kalamunda’s Tini Sauea and Joondalup’s Braden Neho-Udy will start in the centres.
BRUMBIES (1-15): Geoff Olivetti , Levi Park , Sam Filipovic , Cooper Leslie (C) , Jack Maguire , Patrick Hill , Will Bullock , Ezra Taiatini , Oscar Brady , Siliva Mataupu , Cayden Cross , Kaleb Matthews , Jesse Thorp , Henry Farfan , Oliver Henderson
Reserves: Elliott Brown , Oscar Dossetor , Leighton Luteru , Huntah-max Robinson , Harrison McIntyre , Ben Callaway , Tommy Connolly , Charlie Ravouvou
WARATAHS (1-15): Asera Peniata, Talmage Lemusu, Kaiasi Talakai, Marlee Thomas, Will Gencur, Cordell Arama, Cooper Williams, Hunter Hall, Izak Holmes, Wilson Ruthven, Benjamin Wright, Charlie Xuereb, Payton Tarau, Asher Chapman, Finn Hannon
Reserves: Henry Baxter, Hugo Lestrange, Thomas Chan, Ruari Basten, Jayden Richards, Levi Ellis, Ziyon Lepolo, Tom Longland
FORCE (1-15): Elia Vodovodo, Tamati Tawhitapou, Arawa Metekingi Pu-Tamainu, Oscar Sio, Enzo Kyle, Leeson Tiakia, TiakiTutengaehe Turner, Bareek Kleine-Deters Ausage (c), Johan Oosthuizen, Kaiawha Heke, Amos Bell, Tini Sauea, Braden Neho-Udy, Tyrese Wainohu, Robbie Noema
Reserves: Jamie Mackenzie, Liam Brain, Elijah Leilua, Logan Grant, Kalani Onno, Eyzirie Koro, Longoatu Jr Vaka, Kobi Treffery-Koenders
VICTORIA (1-15): TBC
Reserves: TBC
