Sydney University Football Club (SUFC) has two players in the Australian Under 20 squad to take on Samoa Under 20s at Bond University today.
Tighthead prop Tom Robertson is in the run-on XV for the international, with halfback Angus Pulver named on the bench.
Two other Sydney University Colts, five-eighth Johnny Vaux and centre Jim Stewart, are in the 36-man extended Australian Under 20 squad vying for inclusion in the team to contest the IRB Junior World Cup to be played in New Zealand from May 30 to June 21.
Today’s international with Samoa is the first of two the two nations will contest in the next month before final squads are selected for the World Cup.
The Australian squad has been in a 12-day camp at Bond University on the Gold Coast preparing for the first international after which the squad will be reduced to 28.
The World Cup squad will then attend a nine-day camp at Narrabeen and play the second match against Samoa and matches against NSW Country on Saturday, May 24 and Australian Barbarians on Tuesday, May 27 before departing for New Zealand.
ACT Brumbies rookie Tom Staniforth has been named captain of the side for the first international.
“We have a number of strong leaders in the group but Tom (Staniforth) is well placed to lead the side into the match considering the excellent output he has put into previous camps and with the Brumbies as well,” Australian Under 20s coach Adrian Thompson said.
“The squad has been working incredibly hard over the past week during camp and there are a number of key selection battles in a number of positions. Individual performances in the clash against Samoa will be critical in finalising the squad.
“Samoa is always a physical opponent, although that challenge is ideal as we look to test ourselves ahead of the championships later in the year.”
