Two childhood mates from the Orange Emus Rugby Club in Central West NSW will line up alongside one another for the Junior Wallabies on Sunday with a chance to win the inaugural U20s Rugby Championship. 

Scrumhalf Doug Phillipson and fullback Angus Staniforth have both been named in the Australian U20s starting XV to play New Zealand in what both describe as a dream come true. 

“Gussy and I played all our junior rugby together at Emus and for Central West and then at Kinross before we moved to different schools, so to be back together a bit further down the road, it’s pretty cool,” Phillipson told Rugby News. 

Phillipson started for the Junior Wallabies in his side’s opening round loss to Argentina, while Staniforth, a nephew of former Wallaby Scott, earned his starting debut in an impressive 24-19 win over South Africa on Tuesday. 

“It was really exciting to get an opportunity,” Staniforth said. 

“It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a very long time. You grow up as a kid, wanting to wear a gold jersey and to get a chance to start and to win, it was unreal, particularly doing it with Dougy as well.”

Phillipson and Staniforth met at school in year 6 and played most of their junior rugby together before moving to Sydney for their final two years of school at Barker and Kings respectively. 

“We both spent a lot of time down at Emus growing up. My dad was always down there and my uncles were playing first grade there when I was young, so we’d go down and watch and run around with all our mates. 

“We played together through Wallas (Juniors) and at Kinross before we both moved to Sydney. 

“During Covid, all the school footy in Sydney got cancelled so Dougy and I both came back to Orange and played with Emus. We actually won the Central West competition that year and had a great time playing with all our mates again.”

After impressing in their final year of schoolboy rugby, Phillipson moved to Perth to join the Western Force Academy and Staniforth headed south to link with the Brumbies. 

“It was a a big move, but the culture at the Force is great,” Phillipson said. 

“There are a lot of guys in a similar situation who are living a long way from home and everyone looks after each other. 

“The physicality and the pace of everything in training with the Super Rugby guys is a big step up. But probably the biggest thing is the attention to detail. There’s so much that goes in to it on and off the field. 

“I’ve also been lucky enough to train alongside Nic White and he’s been fantastic with me. He’s always happy to help and I probably pester him a little too much with questions but he always has time for me.”

Staniforth said he’s grown up a lot during his first 12 months living in Canberra. He’s linked with local club Canberra Royals and spent the summer training with the Brumbies top squad after impressing in the Brumbies U19s National Championship winning side. 

“It’s all been pretty surreal to be honest. When you go down their to play U19s, you don’t expect to be around all the top dogs at the Brumbies but we spent a lot of time with them over summer,” Staniforth said. 

“As young fellas, we stayed pretty quiet and just tried to make sure we were in the right place at the right time. It was a great experience though. 

“Royals is a great club and they’ve really looked after me, being a young guy down here on my own. 

“I’ve really enjoyed playing grade as well, it’s helped a lot with my physicality and prepared me well for some of the big bodies I’m facing up here.”

If results go their way, a win against New Zealand could see Australia win the inaugural U20s Rugby Championship on Sunday and Phillipson said silverware would be the ideal preparation for the upcoming U20s World Cup.

But it would also be a win for all those involved in country rugby clubs right around Australia. 

“Country rugby is the true grassroots of Australian rugby,” Phillipson said. 

“We grew up and were taught to be passionate about playing for your junior club and your region which was Central West for us. 

“There are a lot of really strong rugby communities in the bush and a lot of talented players that probably get overlooked at times but hopefully we keep seeing more and more players push through in rep teams in the years to come.”

Staniforth said there would be plenty of Emus watching the match, which kicks off at 3:30pm on Sunday. 

“The clubhouse is usually closed on Sunday but I reckon there might be a few watching at the Parkview Hotel.

“To get a chance to win a tournament like this alongside Dougy, it’s surreal. 

“It’s something we spoke about when we were kids and although you dream it, you never really think it’s going to happen, particularly for both of us, so we’re really keen to make the most of the opportunity.”