Two NSW Gen Blue Under 16s teams competed at the week-long nationals at Southport School on Queensland’s Gold Coast.
NSW I made it all the way to the final by winning all three of their pool matches. NSW Gen Blue II won their first two pool matches, only going down to the would-be winner Queensland I in round three.
NSW I then went on to face QLD I in the big one, falling just short of our interstate rivals 21-12 at Bond University while NSW II went down to QLD II in third-place play-off.
There were 50 players in the 2017 Under 16 Gen Blue programme. Of those:
- 66% are from Sydney
- 33% are from NSW Country regions
- 15 were selected from the club pathway
- 35 were selected from the school’s pathway (22 from Sydney-based schools, 13 from NSW Country schools)
NSW Rugby Coach and Education Pathways Manager, Matt Evrard, says the first year of the Gen Blue Under 16 programme has laid a strong foundation.
“The NSW Under 16 Gen Blue programme delivered in uncovering and developing new talent in its first year. Coaches, managers, team staff and players all delivered a programme to be proud of in 2017,” he said.
“This programme has laid the foundation for all future pathways programmes run by NSW.
Here’s how each of our selected New South Welshmen made it into the Australian U16 Merit side:
Nick Jones, St Joseph’s College – Hunters Hill, Presidents XV, NSW Schools 1, NSW Gen Blue, Australian U16 Merit Team
Daniel Ala, Manly Vikings, Manly Marlins, Sydney Juniors, NSW Gen Blue, Australian U16 Merit Team
Joe Brial, The Scots College – Bellevue Hill, Presidents XV, NSW Schools 1, NSW Gen Blue, Australian U16 Merit Team
Blake Males, Edmund Rice College – Wollongong, NSW CCC, NSW Schools 1, NSW Gen Blue, Australian U16 Merit Team
John Connolly, The Kings School – Parramatta, GPS Opens, NSW Schools 1, NSW Gen Blue, Australian U16 Merit Team
Tolutai Koula, Easts Wallaroos, Eastern Suburbs, Sydney Juniors, NSW Gen Blue, Australian U16 Merit Team
Lachlan Albert, Saint Ignatius' College, Riverview, Presidents XV, NSW Schools 1, NSW Gen Blue, Australian U16 Merit Team
Turirangi Dylan Saunders, Penrith RSL, Penrith Emus, Sydney Juniors, NSW Gen Blue, Australian U16 Merit Team
Tom Hooper, St Stanislaus College – Bathurst, NSW ISA 1, NSW Schools 1, NSW Gen Blue, Australian U16 Merit Team
Australian U16 Merit team:
1 Nick Jones New South Wales 1
2 Sam Finocharrio Queensland Red
3 Bradley Kuhn Queensland Red
4 Tom Hooper New South Wales 1
5 Zephaniah Tuinona Queensland Red
6 Lance Bagon Queensland Red
7 William Roach Queensland Red
8 Joe Brial New South Wales 1
9 Lachlan Albert New South Wales 1
10 Carter Gordon Queensland Red
11 Tolutai Koula New South Wales 1
12 John Connolly New South Wales 1
13 Reesjan Pasitoa Queensland Red
14 Lachlan Tenison-Woods Queensland Red
15 Dion Samuela Queensland Red
16 Blake Males New South Wales 1
17 Harry Vella Queensland Red
18 Turirangi Dylan Saunders New South Wales 1
19 Jack Gallagher Queensland White
20 Harrison Newby ACT
21 William Kirk Queensland Red
22 Mason Hill Western Australia
23 Daniel Ala New South Wales 1
