Two-time Super Rugby champion joins Australia U16s coaching staff for camp

Two-time Super Rugby champion Jono Lance has joined the Australia U16s coaching staff ahead of an upcoming development camp, with a 25-player squad set to assemble for a week from Saturday, December 6.

Lance enjoyed a storied career from 2010 to 2022, playing 75 Super Rugby matches across stints with three different clubs. The scrum-half made 34 appearances for the Queensland Reds, 13 for the NSW Waratahs, and 28 out west with the Force.

The eight-cap Australia Sevens representative moved into coaching after hanging up the playing boots, having taken experience from Academy systems at the Reds into the local club rugby scenes in Cottesloe, Perth.

On April 10, 2024, the Force revealed that Lance had joined the Academy coaching staff as an assistant. 19 months later, the Force have confirmed that Lance has taken up a representative position with the Australia U16s ahead of the week-long camp.

Force trio Leeson Tiakia, Bareek Kleine-Deters Ausaga and Kaiawha Heke have all been selected, having part a key role in the club’s recent Super Rugby 16s campaign, finishing third. Kleine-Deters Ausaga and Tiakia are both backrowers, while Heke is a fly-half or fullback.

The squad will get together at Casuarina’s Hyundai High Performance Surf Centre. National Pathways Manager Nic Henderson and Australia U16 coach Tim Rapp will be in charge, with the camp concluding with a match against the Reds U17s at Wests Rugby Club on December 11.

“This year’s Super Rugby Men’s U16 competition showcased a number of talented young players and illustrated our impressive development pathways across the country,” Rapp said in a statement.

“I’m proud to be able to reward a few of the outstanding players from the competition with a call up to a national program where they will be able to display their talent on an elevated stage.

“Those selected will now have the chance to continue developing with one another in a national environment while earning the honour of pulling on the gold jersey and playing for their country.

“We will continue to monitor the development of those talented players who unfortunately missed out on selection to the 25-man squad on this occasion.”

Australia U16s squad

Asher Chapman (NSW Waratahs, Illawarra Sports High School, Kiama Rugby Club)
Bareek Kleine-Deters Ausage (Western Force, Byford Secondary College, Southern Lions)
Charlie Xuereb (NSW Waratahs, Patrician Brothers Blacktown, Western Raptors)
Cooper Williams (NSW Waratahs, St Stanislaus’ College, Canowindra Pythons)
Cordell Arama (NSW Waratahs, Patrician Brothers Blacktown, Blacktown Scorpions)
Denver Bradford (Queensland Reds, Nudgee College, Brothers)
Finn Hannon (NSW Waratahs, St Joseph’s College, Mosman Whales)
Geoffrey Olivetti (ACT Brumbies, Marist College)
Hamish Ward (Victoria, Brighton Grammar School, Melbourne)
Henry Willis (Queensland Reds, Brisbane State High)
Hunter Hall (NSW Waratahs, Newington College, Scone Brumbies)
Izak Holmes (NSW Waratahs, Barker College, Newport Rugby Club)
James Smith (Queensland Reds, The Southport School)
Jeremiah Kite (Queensland Reds, Brisbane Boys College)
Julian Minto (NSW Waratahs, St Joseph’s College, Mosman Whales)
Kaiasi Talakai (NSW Waratahs, Waverley College, Blacktown Scorpions)
Kaiawha Heke (Western Force, Aranmore Catholic College, Mandurah Pirates)
Leeson Tiakia (Western Force, Yanchep Secondary School, Joondalup Brothers)
Moses Faleafa (Queensland Reds, Brisbane Boys College)
Noah Gaffney (Queensland Reds, Brisbane Grammar School)
Payton Tarau (NSW Waratahs, Waverley College, Blacktown Scorpions)
Talmage Lemusu (NSW Waratahs, Waverley College, Blacktown Scorpions)
Thomas Longland (NSW Waratahs, St Augustine’s College)
Will Gencur (NSW Waratahs, Kincumber High School, Lindfield Junior Rugby Club)
Wilson Ruthven (NSW Waratahs, St Augustine’s College, Collaroy Cougars)