Junior Wallabies Head Coach Nathan Grey has confined his first squad for the 2022 year as the Australian U20s program looks to make its return to the national landscape following a disrupted 2021.
The NSW Academy feature’s strongly in Grey’s squad with 17 players named for the upcoming camp.
Assembling in Canberra on February 20, the Junior Wallabies will base themselves in the nation’s capital till March 1 as they prepare for the annual Oceania U20s Championship that will take place in early July this year.
NSW Waratahs Head of Talent Management, Andrew Cleverley said the wide selection of talent from within the Academy program is proof the pathways in NSW are working.
“The selection of 17 players in the Junior Wallabies squad is testament to the strength of the program we are running at NSW with our Academy and Gen Blue teams,” Cleverley said.
“The selection in the Junior Wallabies squad is a significant step in the professional progression of these players.
“We have seen over the years a high number of players transition from the Waratahs senior academy to Junior Wallabies, into full time playing contracts and playing major roles in the current Waratahs side.
“So, it’s incredibly pleasing to have such a high representation of NSW Academy players in the first Junior Wallabies squad of the year.”
Junior Wallabies Head Coach Nathan Grey said: “Following the disruption of the last 18-months, it’s refreshing to be able to come together as a national program as we commence our 2022 campaign.
“The coaches and management are as excited as the players to be able to come together and begin our 2022 journey together. These players have not had the opportunity to play much Rugby recently due to covid, so a camp of this type allows them to show their talents and test themselves against the best of their peers in the country.
“This is one of 3 camps designed to build a squad to represent Australia in the Oceania Tournament, and these players get the first crack at securing a spot in that final group,” Grey said.
2022 Junior Wallabies Camp One Squad:
Siosifa Amone, Western Force Taj Annan, Queensland Reds Ed Arnott, NSW Waratahs Floyd Aubrey, Queensland Reds Nic Baker, Queensland Reds Angus Blackmore, Brumbies Jayden Blake, NSW Waratahs Jack Bowen, NSW Waratahs Cooper Bridgeman, Queensland Reds Adrian Brown, NSW Waratahs John Bryant, Queensland Reds Paddy Burns, NSW Waratahs Luke Callan, Western Force Jamie Clark, NSW Waratahs Ben Dowling, NSW Waratahs George Gibson, NSW Waratahs Mason Gordon, Melbourne Rebels Mac Grealy, Queensland Reds Eyda Haisila, Melbourne Rebels Clem Halaholo, NSW Waratahs Zac Hough, Melbourne Rebels Fritz Jahnke-Tavana, NSW Waratahs Matias Jensen, Brumbies Darby Lancaster, Aussie 7s, NSW Waratahs Jhy Legg, Western Force Remsy Lemisio, Brumbies Tom Lynagh, Queensland Reds Daniel Maiava, Melbourne Rebels Tom Maka, NSW Waratahs Pat Maka, Brumbies Timo Naivaluwaqa, Brumbies Henry O'Donnell, NSW Waratahs George Poolman, Western Force Lukas Ripley, Melbourne Rebels Andrew Romano, Western Force Conor Seve, Western Force Ned Slack-Smith, Western Force Byron Sutherland, NSW Waratahs Paddy Tagg, NSW Waratahs Keynan Tauakipulu, Queensland Reds Kalani Thomas, Queensland Reds David Vaihu, Melbourne Rebels Angus Websdale, NSW Waratahs Louis Werchon, Queensland Reds Teddy Wilson, NSW Waratahs
