U16 and U19 National Championships: NSW Waratahs, Queensland Reds confirm teams for Final

The NSW Waratahs and Queensland Reds have confirmed their teams for the U16 and U19 National Championship Final at Pittwater Park on November 13.

The Waratahs have been dominant throughout the five-week competition, comfortably securing home field advantage. 

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Their U16 side claimed bonus points from all four regular season games, finishing the year with a points difference of +199.

Meanwhile, the U19s have been tested throughout the tournament, surviving multiple scares to take out top spot.

They both face a Queensland Reds side hungry for revenge after their opening round defeat at Sunnybank.

The U16s Reds booked their place in the final with a dominant 45-14 win over the Melbourne Rebels last week, just edging out the Western Force.

As for the U19s, they will be rueing a second-half slump after leading the Waratahs 19-3 in their previous match-up, falling 29-26.

This year's competition was restructured to replicate a professional environment to prepare them for Super Rugby Pacific and beyond, with High-Performance National Programs Coach Nathan Grey excited about the growth on display across the teams.

"This final will be an exciting culmination of what's been an awesome tournament. We've been able to showcase the talent from all states, with some great footy, tough games and difficult conditions," Gray said in a statement.

“We're down to NSW and QLD, the two most consistent teams, and it will be great to see them have a crack and crown our National Champions.

“You can see the connection of each of the teams as they represent their Super Rugby Pacific franchises. Creating the connection between those younger players and their clubs allows them to see their pathway, and as the pre-season kicks off, they're going to see those senior teams training and playing. 

“The Waratahs U16 team has been very impressive the whole tournament and has had a heap of different combinations. It will be great to see if the Reds will be the team to push and test them.   

“I think given the close result in Round 1, we're going to see a skillful, physical and exciting Final for the U19s.”  

The final will be shown live, ad-free and on-demand on Stan Sport, with the U16s kicking off at 12:05 pm (AEDT) followed by the U19s (2:35 pm).

U16 National Rugby Championship Team Lists:

WARATAHS (1-15): Daniel Christodoulou, Max Meagher, Edwin Langi, Toby Brial, Zion Poitaha, Luca Cleverly, Marshall Le Maitre, Oliver Aboud, Sam Blank, Matthew Humphries, Charlie Poynton, Joe Walsh, Leo Jacques, Casey Mclean, Mitchell Woods  

Reserves: Luke Muriti, Harper Strachan, Nick Hill, Henry Seigmeier, Samuel Niulala, Darcy Brown, Zac Fittler, Tylan Black-Berryman 

REDS (1-15): Blaze Moana, Ewald Kruger, Emil Willie-Jawai, Will Pascoe, Avery Thomson, Tom Robinson, Joe Stoddart, Jasper Barry, Samuel Watson, Chace Oates, James Duggan, Ryan Heaton, Prestyn Laine-Sietu, Tom Howard, Blake Miller 

Reserves: Harry Solofa, Lochlan Smith, Princeton Loane, John Grenfell, Billy Wellard, Tom Goldie, Charlie OConnell, Zac Nichol, Nate Hepi 

U19 National Rugby Championship Final Team Lists:

WARATAHS (1-15): Jamie Clark, Albert Alcock, Jayden Moujalli, Jackson Knight, Fritz Jahnke-Tavana, Clement Halaholo, Hayden Maher, Sam Allsopp, Tom Goddard, Jack Bowen, Aaron Dimovitch, Charles Worthington, Jackson Ropata, Tom Morrison, Jack Matthews 

Reserves: Jack Barrett, Lulu Paea, Henry Roberts, Angus Griffin, Will Martin, Teddy Wilson, Luke McCready, Paulie Manuel 

REDS (1-15): Harrison Usher, Max Craig, Nick Bloomfield, Lachlan Shaw, Dylan Loader, George Stoddart, Nicholas Baker, John Bryant, Willem Johnstone, Harry Mclaughlin-Phillips, Jarrod Homan, Taj Annan, Tim Ryan, Jackson Connelly, Matthew Brice 

Reserves: Noah Hartley, Jack Booker, Angus Ward, Tanna Wilson, Stuart Tualima, Sam Farrar, Alex Miles, Harry Grant, Saxon Warwick   

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