The Australian Schools and U18s Championships are being played in Sydney this week with a series of teams from NSW taking on the best from Queensland, ACT and Victoria in the top division. 

Players in this tournament, which is seperate to the National U18 Academy games also being played throughout July, are eligible for selection in the Australian A Schoolboys side and the Australian Schoolboys Barbarians who will both play against Tongan Schools later this year. 

The final day of the tournament will be streamed live on NSW Rugby TV on Thursday, with replays of all matches played so far this week available on demand. 

Here are a few of the standout performers from the opening two days of play. 

Oscar Lane – QLD II/King’s Christian College

Tall, red-headed QLD II No.7 Oscar Lane is a fantastic on the ball backrower who has led his team to the Australian Schools final on Thursday. Lane is lightning quick, super tough over the ball and works hard around the park. 

Henry James – NSW I/Scots

While NSW I were upset by NSW Juniors on the opening day of the tournament, James has been a standout for the competition favourites, directing the side around the park partucarly well in Tuesday’s big win over ACT. 

Dane Mitchell – NSW Juniors/Trinity

NSW Juniors, a side picked mostly from the best club players from the NSW U18 State Championships, have played their way into Thursday’s final and fullback Dane Mitchell is a big reason why. While he’s only small, Mitchell is lightning quick and used his pace to score and set up the first two tries in Tuesday’s semi final. 

Finn Lawson – QLD I/Mountain Creek State HS

Like NSW I, QLD I were also upset on the opening day of the tournament, but that hasn’t stopped winger Finn Lawson from making his presence felt in the opening two matches. From Mountain Creek State High, Lawson has a massive left boot and has scored some fantastic individual tries. 

Kelvyn Togia – NSW II/Hills Sports HS

NSW II replacement forward Kelvyn Togia was the best player on the field in NSW II’s thrilling semi final against QLD II on Tuesday. The big, powerful backrower had a big impact on a cold, wet day at Granville. 

Alisi Leao – NSW Juniors/West Harbour

Big West Harbour backrower Alisi Leao (pictured) scored two quick tries to spark NSW Juniors massive upset over NSW I on the opening day of the tournament.

Tom Farr-Jones – NSW I/Newington

The lightning quick winger with a famous last name scored a hat-trick for NSW I in Tuesday’s big win over ACT. The Newington back has combined brilliantly with Scots’ flyhalf Henry James for several tries already this week. 

Jaiden Masaga – ACT/Erindale College

While it’s been a tough week so far for ACT, No,7 Jaiden Masaga has been a standout and will challenge Oscar Lane from QLD II as the pick of the on-the-ball flankers over the opening two days. 

Kye Porter – QLD II/St Andrew’s Anglican College, Peregian Springs 

QLD II flyhalf Kye Porter played off the bench in Tuesday’s semi final against NSW II but won his side the match through his kicking game. On a cold, wet day, Porter showed the patience to kick repeatedly, despite trailing NSW in the final minutes of the match. His game management was rewarded when one kick led to a NSW mistake, then a NSW penalty, then a winning penalty goal for Porter and QLD II.