Next generation rugby talent coming through
All but 11 of the 46 players chosen for the two Xstrata Queensland Schoolboy teams to contest next week's Australian championships are products of either the regional rugby college system or the ARU's National Talent Squad (NTS).
Thirteen of the 23 players in the Number 1 team have come through the NTS, a high performance coaching program that works in with existing school and representative programs to develop the most talented schoolboy players. Another four NTS players were selected in the Xstrata Queensland Schools 2 team.
The Queensland Regional Rugby College system operates in addition to the NTS to provide young players with high level coaching and personal guidance that they may not otherwise receive in their usual playing environment. Five of the players in the No 1 team and 13 in the No 2 team are products of the regional colleges.
Queensland Rugby's Performance Rugby Manager Ben Whitaker said the independent selections made at the trials showed the most talented players were being identified and groomed for higher honours.
"The production line is working. Queensland won the national championships last year and with two strong teams being chosen on the form shown in the Xstrata Schoolboy trials over the last week, we believe we have an excellent chance of defending that title," Whitaker said.
The growth of rugby outside the traditional schools was also demonstrated with the selection of eight Combined Secondary Schools players in the two squads when in previous years there might only have been a couple. All but two are in regional rugby colleges.
"The Combined Secondary Schools teams performed really well during the trials and those performances have been recognised. A lot of work has been done over a number of years by the regional colleges, Queensland Rugby's own Development Officers and by dedicated people within the school system to get to this stage and it's really starting to pay dividends," Whitaker said.
The Australian Rugby Football Schools National Championships will be held in Canberra July 8-13.
Xstrata Queensland Schools 1:
Simon Morahan (TSS), Dominic Shipperly (NC), Joel Faulkner (BSHS), Stefano Hunt (NC), Nicky Price (NC), James Ambrosini (SLC), Eddie Bredenhan (ACGS), Jarrad Butler (TSS), Jordan Tuapou (BSHS), Edward Quirk (BSHS), Robert Speed (TGS), Nic Buchanan (GT), Josh Daley (TSS), Matt Ika (BSHS), David Feao (BSHS). Reserves: Matt Wenck (IGS), Dalton Dumminy (Helensvale SHS), Apetai Matalau (ATC Nth Qld), Steve Finnigan (Helensvale SHS), Ben Evans (TSS), Ben O’Connor (SLC), Dane Gagai (BBC), Luke Leeming (Redeemer)
Xstrata Queensland Schools 2:
Elih Baillie (NC), Chris Nadalo (Marsden SHS), Fred Tuua (Wavell SHS), Solamoni Rasolea (ACGS), Kenneth Robertson (IGS), Teti Teli (IGS), Sam Grasso (NC), Tim Southwood (Mar Ash), Aiden Aberg (Merrimac SHS), Ben Radmall (Mountain Creek SHS), Ted Postal (NC), Dan McGee (Good Shepherd Lutheran), Paul Alo-Emile (BSHS), Mitch Wenck (SLC), Lyall Fidow (Groves Christian Coll). Reserves: Jack O’Shea (Ignatius Park College), Matthew Mafi (NC), Robert Middlin (BBC), Neemiah Tupuse (IGS), Aussie Smith (Mountain Creek SHS), Nick Frisby (Mar Ash) Ben Marshall (Elanora SHS), Chris Mansell (Iona).
