AUSTRALIAN TRAINING SQUADS FOR COMMONWEALTH YOUTH GAMES ANNOUNCED
The Australian Rugby Union has named its extended Boy’s and Girl’s Rugby Sevens training squads ahead of September’s Commonwealth Youth Games in Samoa.
Both squads were selected on the strength of performances at the recent National Youth Sevens Championships at Australian Rugby Sevens HQ in Sydney, whilst the process was supported by the Head Coaches of the National Men’s and Women’s programs – Geraint John and Tim Walsh. The ARU will host three training camps at the Sydney Academy of Sport in April, June and July before a final pre-tournament Assembly Camp in Brisbane between 3-5 September.
In the 25-man Boy’s squad, there are 11 players from New South Wales, six from Queensland, four from Victoria, two from ACT and one player apiece from Western Australia and Northern Territory.
The Boy’s competition at the 2015 Commonwealth Youth Games will feature eight teams – England, Fiji, Kenya, Samoa, South Africa, Singapore, the Cayman Islands as well as Australia.
Hugh Carpenter, Sevens Talent Development Co-ordinator and coach of the Australian Youth Boys Commonwealth Games side, said: “Being the inaugural year for the National Youth Boys Championships, it was pleasing to see such a high level of talent on show, combined with the exceptional standard of play throughout the entire tournament.
“The Commonwealth Youth Games will be a fantastic exposure and great challenge for the final squad of 12 players selected. The standard of opposition is world class – a field that includes England, South Africa, Fiji and Samoa.”
Carpenter added: “There is no doubt in my mind that some of these Youth players have the ability to play on the World Rugby Sevens series in the next few years.”
Meanwhile, a 29-strong extended Girl’s squad has been selected. Fifteen of the players are from New South Wales, eight from Queensland, three from Western Australia and one player apiece from Victoria, South Australia and ACT.
Six teams will compete in the Girl’s Rugby Sevens competition at the Commonwealth Youth Games – Australia, hosts Samoa, Canada, Fiji, Papua New Guinea and the Cook Islands.
Sevens Pathways Manager and Australian Youth Girls Commonwealth Games Head Coach Dale Roberson said: “There is plenty of excitement around Women’s Rugby Sevens in Australia at the moment and I am excited to start working with the wider training girls squad for the upcoming Commonwealth Youth Games myself. Our Youth Olympic Girls Sevens team won Gold in China last year and we now have a strong pathway established.
“The 2015 Commonwealth Youth Games will be another opportunity for players to develop and hopefully push hard for future national team selection. We are looking forward to competing at a competition against quality opposition such as Canada, Fiji and Samoa.”
>From the wider training squad, a final team of 12 players plus three standby players will be chosen for the Commonwealth Youth Games between 5-13 September.
The ARU’s Sevens talent development and national teams program is valuably supported by the Australian Commonwealth Games Association’s (ACGA) 2015 NextGEN AUSComGames Squad program – assisting the next generation of national Rugby Sevens stars to attend and achieve at the 2018 and 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Boy’s Training squad for the Commonwealth Youth Games
Lachlan Anderson, Born: Kellyville NSW (aged 17)
Tim Anstee, Baulkham Hills NSW (17)
James Armstrong, Warrawee NSW (17)
Oisin Clarken, Doveton VIC (17)
Josh Coward, Greensborough VIC (17)
Nicholas Donghi, Hoppers Crossing VIC (16)
Sam Edwards, Stafford Heights QLD (18)
Tevita Funa, Fairfield NSW (16)
Harrison Goddard, Kenthurst NSW (16)
Reece Hewat, Figtree NSW (17)
Simon Kennewell, Collaroy NSW (18)
Jamie Kotz, Melba ACT (aged 18)
Harry Leddy, Bonython ACT (18)
Robert Leota, Thornbury VIC, (18)
Sepesa Loga-Toragi, Annandale NSW (18)
Liam McNamara, Runcorn QLD (18)
Liam Moseley, Wooloowin QLD (17)
Maleli Motonicocona, Rapid Creek NT (17)
Jayden Ngamanu, Madeley WA (17)
Dylan Pietsch, Lake Albert NSW (16)
Dylan Riley, Hope Island QLD (17)
Clifton Setu, St Lucia QLD (17)
James Tautaiolefua, Eaglevale NSW (15)
Kris Verevis, Kuranda QLD (16)
Tom Wright, Coogee NSW (17)
Girl’s Training squad for the Youth Commonwealth Games
Emily Burke, Born: Bulli NSW (aged 16)
Shenae Ciesiolka, Westbrook, QLD (17)
Brittany Constable, Warrawong NSW (17)
Dominique Du Toit, Toowoomba QLD (17)
Eseta Fangaloka, Goodna QLD (16)
Jade Fonua, Liverpool NSW (17)
Jayme Fressard, Watanobbi NSW (17)
Tahlia Fuimaono, St Clair NSW (15)
Demi Hayes, Toowoomba QLD (16)
Ariana Hetherington, Rockingham WA (15)
Kirrily Laws, Roselands NSW (17)
Taylor Mapusua, Banyo QLD (16)
Samantha Maxwell, Cootamundra NSW (17)
Kiara Meredith-Brown, Uriarra ACT (17)
Page McGregor, Yagoona NSW (16)
Racene McGregor, Yagoona NSW (17)
Riley McKay, Noraville NSW (16)
Claudia Obst, Harefield NSW (15)
Melaea Ofahengaue, Kincumber NSW (17)
Shanice Parker, Yangebup WA (16)
Amber Pilley, Tugun QLD (17)
Shana Povery, Alstonville NSW (16)
Sophie Quirk, Glenfield Park NSW (15)
Cheyelle Robins, Waneroo WA (17)
Mackenzie Sadler, Kensington Park SA (18)
Hannah Southwell, Cameron Park NSW (16)
Emma Sykes, Sippy Downs QLD (16)
Tangata Tupou, Broadmeadows VIC (17)
Laura Waldie, Camp Hill QLD (17)
*All ages as at Monday 16 March 2015
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