Initial plans are in place for the Waratahs to play a series of matches against a Shute Shield All Stars team later this year. 

While the fixtures are anything but certain, the idea of watching a few quality games of rugby from a sunny hill somewhere probably sounds pretty good to anyone in lockdown at the moment. 

So we thought we’d put together a rough draft of a Shute Shield All Stars team filled with players that could be available in December this year. 

Rory O’Connor (Warringah) & Matt Sandell (Sydney Uni) 

O’Connor and Sandell are two of the best scrummagers in the competition and earn selection over Tom Osborne, Rhys Sherriff and Faalelei Sione

Hookers – Declan Moore (Sydney Uni) 

How can you look past a hooker who ended the year as the leading tryscorer, five ahead of his closest rival? 

Moore is surely edging closer to a professional contract and gets the nod ahead of Andrew Tuala and Ed Craig.

Locks – Jack Margin (Gordon) & Charlie Cale (Eastwood) 

Margin and Cale edge out a talented bunch of locks including Ben Houston, Andrew Davies, Joe Tamani and Sione Fifita. 

Backrow – Michael Icely (Eastwood), Josh Bokser (Souths) & Brad Hemopo (Norths)

Arguably the toughest to pick, Icely and Hemopo have proven to be two of the most dangerous backrowers over a number of seasons, while Kiwi backrower Bokser was a standout for the Rebels in his first season in Sydney. 

Pat Sio, Jordy Goddard, Dean Oakman Hunt, Kaliova Nacina and Hunter Ward all wouldn’t be out of place either. 

Scrumhalf – Nick Duffy (Norths)

Duffy just gets the nod ahead of Randwick’s Mitch Short, purely because he hasn’t been given as much opportunity as Short to crack Super Rugby. 

Both are nippy No.9s with great passes. Eastwood’s Matt Gonzales and Souths’ Tyzac Jordan could also fit in nicely. 

Flyhalf – Chris Bell (Eastwood)

If we’re rewarding form over the past 18 months, you can’t go past Eastwood’s English import Chris Bell, who has arguably the best kicking game in the competition. 

In saying that, Angus Sinclair and Rohan Saifoloi both also deserve an opportunity. 

Centres – Harry Burey (Norths) & Seb Wileman (Warringah)

Burey and Wileman both should have played a lot more professional rugby than they have at this point of their careers and they’d likely show why in this type of fixture. 

Wileman’s Rats teammate Tyson Davis would also have an impact, as would Uni pair Henry Clunies-Ross and Eddie Poolman and Eastwood’s Enoki Muliufi. 

Wingers – Richie Woolf (Easts) & Christian Yassmin (Randwick) 

By the numbers, Randwick outside back Christian Yassmin was one of the most illusive ball runners this season, while Richie Woolf has proven time and time again that he can break a game open of his own. 

Fullback – Tim Clements (Sydney Uni) 

The most talented and consistent non contracted player in the Shute Shield, Clements somehow still hasn’t been added to a Super Rugby roster. 

He edges out the equally talented Max Burey for the No.15 spot, while Warringah’s Ben Marr would have made the selection even tougher if he wasn’t injured.