The victorious NSW Colts squad celebrate their victory
at last weekend’s National Under 20s Championship

Waratahs Rugby Media Release –

Fourteen NSW Colts players are just one step away from representing Australia in the IRB Junior World Championship in June.

On the back of their victory at last week’s National Under 20 Championships, NSW Colts comprise almost half of the Australian Under 20s training squad to take on Fiji and Samoa on the Gold Coast later this month, in preparation for the Junior World Championship which takes place in Auckland from May 30 – June 21.

“To get 14 NSW players selected out of a squad of 33 is an outstanding achievement and I put it down to the fact we were the dominant team, playing as a team,” enthused NSW Colts’ coach Tim Rapp.

Three players are backing up after being involved in last season’s Under 20s national squad. Gordon’s tenacious Jack Dempsey, the super slick Angus Pulver from Sydney University and Eastwood’s impact man Pat Sio were all involved last season, while NSW captain and Manly Marlin Matt Phillips was selected last year but ruled out through injury.

Firmly on the radar, inside centre David Horwitz is already contracted to the NSW Waratahs on an extended playing contract and spent most of the off-season honing his skills with the Waratahs’ senior squad.

Four players are young enough to go again next year, with 19-year-olds Sam Croke (originally from the North Coast’s Lennox Heads and described as the bolter by Rapp), 2013 Australian Schoolboys Andrew Deegan and versatile Randwick outside back Andrew Kellaway, and West Harbour’s tough prop Cameron Orr, all included despite being a year younger.

Orr is one of three NSW props to gain selection, with Manly’s set piece specialist Rory O’Connor and Student Tom Robertson also included, alongside hooker Tevita Vea.  “Tevita might play like a backrower in the loose but knows his role in the set piece,” says Rapp of the Randwick hooker.

After missing the first two games of last week’s three-game championship through injury, University’s fullback Johnny Vaux had just one game to impress. An outstanding ball carrier and distributor with great vision, he didn’t waste his opportunity.

Also from Uni, centre Jimmy Stewart didn’t play in the championships but his elusive skills and rock solid defence earned him the nod.

Australia U20 squad to play Fiji and Samoa

Allan Ala’alatoa (ACT); Tom Banks (Qld); Luke Burton (WA); Sam Croke (NSW); Andrew Deegan (NSW); Jack Dempsey (NSW); Lalakai Foketi (Vic); Scott Gale (Qld); Michael Gunn (Qld); Ross Haylett-Petty (WA); David Horwitz (NSW); Alifeliti Kaitu’u (Qld); Andrew Kellaway (NSW); Brad Lacy (WA); Jake McIntyre (Qld); Sean McMahon (Vic); Rory O’Connor (NSW); Cameron Orr (NSW); Jack Payne (Qld); Joel  Penders (ACT); Rowan Perry (ACT); Matthew Philip (NSW); Jonah Placid (Qld); Joseph Powell (ACT); Angus Pulver (NSW); Tom Robertson (NSW); Andrew Robinson (ACT); Harry Scoble (WA); Pat Sio (NSW); Tom Staniforth (ACT); Jimmy Stewart (NSW); Johnny Vaux (NSW); Tevita Vea (NSW)