Junior Wallabies confirm preliminary squad for U20s Rugby Championship

With a mix of Super Rugby Pacific experience and national U19s champions, coach Nathan Grey has confirmed an exciting 35-man preliminary Junior Wallabies squad for the inaugural U20s Rugby Championship on the Sunshine Coast.

The Junior Wallabies will take on the best emerging rugby talent from Argentina, South Africa and New Zealand in a historic event from May 2 to 12 at Sunshine Coast Stadium near Mooloolaba.

While the Six Nations U20s Championship has been around for almost 15 years, this is the first time ever that the best of the best in the southern hemisphere will come together for a U20s instalment of The Rugby Championship.

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Recent NSW Waratahs debutant Jack Barrett – who was a late replacement for Wallaby Angus Bell against the Melbourne Rebels in round six – is one player to watch out for after being included in the initial 35-player group.

There are a total of nine players in the squad, including Barrett, from the Waratahs region. Rising star and Sevens development player Aden Ekanyake is also from the Sydney-based franchise.

Ekanyake captained the Australian Schools & U18s against New Zealand last year before moving into the sevens set-up by joining the Aussies’ wider squad for the 2023/24 campaign.

The ACT Brumbies have the largest representation with 10 men included in this Junior Wallabies squad.

Fly-half Cullen Gray, centre Jarrah McLeod, props Tevita Alatini and Lington Leli, and fullback Shane Wilcox all featured for the Brumbies Runners in 2024.

Queensland ahs six players in the squad while there are five players from our west.

From the Rebels, Judiah Saumaisue ahs been named after representing Fiji at last year’s U20 World Championship.

This 35-man group will assemble in Kangaroo Valley before the squad is cut down to 31 ahead of the event.

Australia will take on Argentina in their opening match on May 2 before facing South Africa and finally New Zealand.

Australia U20s preliminary TRC squad

Brumbies: Tevita Alatini, Drew Brndusic, Harvey Cordukes, Cullen Gray, Jack Harley, Lington Leli, Jarrah McLeod, Toby Macpherson, Angus Staniforth, Shane Wilcox

Rebels: Joey Fowler, Divad Palu, Judah Saumaisue, Ottavio Tuipulotu

Force: Boston Fakafanua, Ronan Leahy, Douglas Philipson, Dane Sawers, Kauri Tipene-Grace

Reds: Ollie Barrett, Nick Bloomfield, Ben Daniels, Frankie Goldsbrough, Joe Liddy, Will McCulloch, Xavier Rubens

Waratahs: Jack Barrett, Ben Di Staso, Austin Durbridge, Bryn Edwards, Aden Ekanayake, Olli McCrea, Archie Saunders, Hwi Sharples, Nathaniel Tiitii