The NSW TracTahs programme was created back in 2014 with the aim of discovering and developing athletes with the potential to play in the ‘tight five’ forwards as they mature as players.
The programme aims to identify potential new athletes each year from the Under 12s and Under 15s age groups, up-skilling the youngsters to confidently compete at the set piece with the correct and safe technique.
The players are selected from major tournaments throughout the year based on their current skill level as well as their body shapes’ suitability to play in the front row or the second row.
The identified athletes are inducted and are invited to attend three camps per year until they turn 17. NSW Coach Education and Pathway Manager, Matt Evrard said:
“We are very excited to name our 2017 players who have been identified for the NSW TracTahs tight-five programme.
“After attending the NSW State Championships for Clubs and Schools, these players have been identified as potential tight-five players of the future. They will be inducted with the year two group at the new home of NSW Rugby and the NSW Waratahs at David Phillips Sporting Complex on January 20 of next year.
“Each year, a new batch of 12-year-olds are inducted and invited back until they turn 17. The whole aim of the program is to influence the level of set piece abilities and skills in the age groups coming through the pathway at an earlier stage.
"This is the 4th year of the program, with over 120 players inducted since 2014,” he said.
Graduating these players into the Gen Blue pathway is another objective for Evrard.
“The oldest players in the program are 15 years of age and many played in the 2017 Junior Gold Cup & U16 National Championships,” he said.
“Malakai Halaevalu managed to gain selection in the Gen Blue U16 team as a tight head prop which is very exciting for the program.”
2017 TracTahs squad:
First Name, Last name, Team
Gyrae Afoa, Sydney Uni
Benji Allen, CIS PSSA
Wade Avega, Southern Districts
Finn Baxter, Randwick
Noah Brien, Western NSW PSSA
Luke Carati, Southern Districts
Blake Crehan, Mackillop PSSA
Harry Darling, Norths
Tehanataua Dhedadig, Sydney West PSSA
Charlie Dixon, CIS PSSA
Luke Evans, Polding PSSA
Ben Finegan, Randwick
Oscar Greville, Sydney East PSSA / Sydney Uni
Malakai Hawkes, Sydney North PSSA
Blake Hasler, South Coast PSSA
Drew Hope, Polding PSSA
Fred Kearney, North West PSSA
Junior Latu, Sydney West PSSA
Kakile Leha, Southern Districts
Quade Leo, Sydney South West PSSA
Archie McInally, Randwick
Henry Miller Polding PSSA / Central West
Eligah Milosia, Penrith
Konstantinos Moananu, Mackillop PSSA
Beau Morrison, Warringah
Bailey Park, CIS PSSA
Jonah Raidaveta, Western NSW PSSA
Stanley Rush, Polding PSSA
Luini Sete-falemaka, Mackillop PSSA
Jonah Sua, Mackillop PSSA
Paulo Tauiliili Pelesasa, Gordon
Palu Tausala, Illawarra
Noah Tofaeono, Paramatta
Samiuela Tu'iniua, Sydney South West PSSA
Kaden Vai, Sydney Uni
John Vaokakala, Mackillop PSSA
Paul Vaokakala, Manly
Henry Volkman, Sydney South West PSSA / Sydney Uni
Daniel Wall, South Coast PSSA
