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15-year-old 'next Folau' tipped to break James O'Connor's record as youngest Wallaby


James O'Connor (R) and Israel Folau.
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A 15-year-old schoolboy rugby star has been touted as the ‘next Israel Folau’ as Rugby Australia move to secure more young talent.

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King’s School fullback Joseph Suaalii shone in this year’s GPS competition and is already the same height as Folau.

Suaalii, a year nine student, grew up playing rugby league and dabbled in rugby, AFL, basketball and athletics by the age of 11.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Rugby Australia believe Suaalii has the chance to break James O’Connor’s record as the youngest ever Wallabies debutant at 18.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjcbLzoYlbo

Wallabies coach Michael Cheika met with Suaalii earlier this year and introduced him to his idol Folau. According to SMH a source told The Cauliflower that Suaalii ‘shook like a leaf’ upon meeting the cross-code star.

Suaalii’s pathway to the national side – and perhaps Folau’s Wallaby No.15 jumper one day – is now clearer after the Super Rugby academy system underwent an overhaul.

As opposed to focusing on school leavers, players will now enter the first academy stage as young as 15 as they progress towards playing in the newly formed Under-19 Rugby Championship.

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Suaalii is just one of the schoolboy talents Rugby Australia is keeping tabs on. Year 12 students Will Harris (Scots) and Angus Bell (Newington) have all been retained in rugby despite big interest from NRL clubs. The pair were among RA and the Waratahs’ top two schoolboy targets this year.

In other news:

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Phantom 35 minutes ago
Nations Championship: 'The data shows the north has finally caught up with the south'

Fact: the gap between the North and the South has narrowed considerably - that I get. However, determining that only selecting only Home grown players or playing in the home country is is the optimal strategy is a bit of a toss up and highly reliant on the economies of the home union. I do understand that England and to a lesser degree Ireland selects home based only. The top 14 is a massive threat to their domestic product. France would probably not be affected (the money is at home). Fiji, Argentina, Samoa, Italy and you could even argue Scotland have only benefitted from this. Their players either go overseas to learn at higher levels (Fiji, Samoa, Argentina) or players coming into their leagues to strengthen the home product and their National teams (Scotland, Italy, Japan).

South Africa used to limit its selection to the home based players, but the reality of a weak currency vs what players could earn oversees meant that you lost access to your best players at some stage of their careers, with very few exceptions. Kolbe left SA as he was considered too small for International Rugby (yes coaches/selectors view), but ironically in France he forced selectors to notice his endeavors and select him. He is only reaching 50 caps now despite being north of 30 - granted rotation and the odd injury also played a role, but for the most part it is having debuted or becoming a regular so late.



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