Three Sydney University Elite Athlete Program (EAP) scholarship holders and one further Sydney University Football Club (SUFC) representative have been named in the 28-man squad to represent Australia at the IRB Junior World Championship being held in South Africa in June.
The EAP scholarship holders selected are James Dargaville (Civil Engineering), Sam Jeffries (Bachelor of Construction Management), Benn Melrose (Bachelor of Law and Commerce).
Silatolu Latu is the other SUFC player selected.
Sydney University along with University of Queensland have the highest number of representatives chosen in the 2012 squad.
The squad has been selected by coaches Anthony Eddy and David Nucifora following extensive work with a group of more than 60 players from across the country.
Over the past few months Eddy and Nucifora have held two selection camps and watched players closely in their respective club Rugby environments before settling on their 28-man squad.
In its brief history since changing from the Australian Under-19 and Under-21 programs, the Australian Under-20 side nurtured the talent of current Qantas Wallabies and FxPro Super Rugby players Quade Cooper, Will Genia, David Pocock, Rob Simmons and James Slipper.
Last year’s Australian Under-20 side finished third at the IRB Junior World Championship, after losing 37-7 to New Zealand in the semi-final. They went on to beat France 30-17 in the third-fourth playoff game.
The 2012 fixture will see the Australian Under-20s enter as the first seed in Pool C, taking on France, Argentina and Scotland.
Pool A will feature New Zealand, Fiji, Wales and Samoa and Pool B will contain England, South Africa, Ireland and Italy.
The 2012 Australian Under-20 side will assemble in Narrabeen on 18 May to prepare for the IRB Junior World Championship in June.
Fox Sports will broadcast all Australian Under-20 matches along with a selection of other matches from the IRB Junior World Championship. More details around broadcast times and channels will be made available closer to the tournament.
Australian Under 20 Junior World Championship Squad
Player |
State |
Club |
Allan Alaalatoa |
NSW |
West Harbour |
Curtis Browning |
QLD |
Queensland University |
Lindsay Crook |
NSW |
Queensland University |
Steven Cummins |
NSW |
Eastwood |
Thomas Cusack |
ACT |
Royals |
James Dargaville |
NSW |
Sydney University |
Allan Faalavaau |
VIC |
Endeavour Hills |
Con Foley |
QLD |
Queensland University |
Nicholas Frisby |
QLD |
GPS |
Liam Gill |
QLD |
Sunnybank |
Kyle Godwin |
WA |
Associates |
Malietoa Hingano |
NSW |
Manly |
Lewis Holland |
ACT |
Queanbeyan |
Jed Holloway |
NSW |
Southern Districts |
Oliver Hoskins |
WA |
Manly |
Sam Jeffries |
NSW |
Sydney University |
Silatolu Latu |
NSW |
Sydney University |
Apolosi Latunipulu |
NSW |
Southern Districts |
Matthew Lucas |
QLD |
Sunnybank |
Leslie Makin |
ACT |
Queanbeyan |
Sean McMahon |
QLD |
GPS |
Benn Melrose |
NSW |
Sydney University |
Maile Ngauamo |
QLD |
Sunnybank |
Pettowa Paraka |
QLD |
Easts |
Sam Reiser |
QLD |
Queensland University |
Hugh Roach |
NSW |
Eastwood |
Christopher Sautia |
QLD |
Souths |
Ulupano Seuteni |
QLD |
Easts |