The ARU has tonight announced a 26-man Australian Barbarians squad to tour New Zealand in November, made up of the best performing non-contracted players from the 2015 NRC regular season.

The Barbarians will play two matches against the Heartland XV, a side selected from non-contracted players playing in New Zealand’s Heartland Championship.

The Australian side will be coached by NSW Country’s Darren Coleman and UC Vikings coach Brad Harris, with the ARU’s Adrian Thompson and former Wallaby Steven Hoiles all part of the selection committee.

“This tour is a really good opportunity for players that have already made the step up to the NRC to push their claim for further honours. It is also the perfect opportunity for the selected players to play in a different environment,” Thompson said.

“We’ve selected a young side that I’m sure will meet a Heartland XV team that will be tough and physical. I’m certain they’ll be excited at this unique opportunity to play a touring Australian team.”

All nine NRC teams are represented in the squad, which has an average age of just 23, with NSW Country (7) and the UC Vikings (4) dominating the squad.

Australian Barbarians squad to tour New Zealand 

Props
Cameron Orr (Greater Sydney Rams) – aged 20
Hayden Hirismaki (Queensland Country) – aged 27
Tyrel Lomax (UC Vikings) – aged 19
Duncan Chubb (Melbourne Rising) – aged 27

Hookers
Luke Holmes (North Harbour Rays) – aged 31
Ryan Dalziel (CSU Country Eagles) – aged 27

Locks
Matt Philip (Sydney Stars) – aged 21
Ben Hyne (Brisbane City) – aged 21
Phil Potgieter (Queensland Country) – aged 20

Backrow
Waita Setu (Brisbane City) – aged 23
Rowan Perry (UC Vikings) – aged 21
Sam Figg (CSU Country Eagles) – aged 23
Dean Oakman-Hunt (UC Vikings) – aged 22
Pauli Tuala (CSU Country Eagles) – aged 30
Mark Baldwin (CSU Country Eagles) – aged 22

Halfbacks
Mitch Short (CSU Country Eagles) – aged 20
Dewet Roos (Greater Sydney Rams) – aged 25

Flyhalf
Rod Iona (UC Vikings) – aged 24

Centres
Reece Hodge (North Harbour Rays) – aged 21
Andrew Robinson (Sydney Stars) – aged 21
Tom Hill (North Harbour Rays) – aged 25
Charlie Clifton (CSU Country Eagles) – aged 24

Outside backs
Maalonga Konelio (Perth Spirit) – aged 26
Paul Asquith (Greater Sydney Rams) – aged 22
Jarome McKenzie (CSU Country Eagles) – aged 24
Harry Jones (Sydney Stars) – aged 19

Co-coaches
Darren Coleman (CSU Country Eagles)
Brad Harris (UC Vikings)