Following a third-place finish at the inaugural U19 National Championships, 14 players from the ACT and Southern NSW region have been selected in the ACT-state Academy wider training squad.
It’s the first chance for the local products to stake their claim for a possible spot in the Aussie U20’s frame, with the Oceania U20 Championships and Junior World Cup set to go again in 2019.
The Brumbies had seven players included in the U20 championships in France earlier this year, with Tom Ross, Len Ikitau and Sydney-recruit Bayley Kuenzle all signing their first pro-deals with the club for next season.
Queanbeyan and the Tuggeranong Vikings each had four in the group. Seamus Smith, Billy Carberry and Lachlan Lonergan all played key roles in the Vikings 2018 Colts Premiership victory.Lachlan is the brother of Plus500 Brumbies halfback Ryan Lonergan who captained the Junior Wallabies in France in 2018.
Noah Lolesio rounds out the Tuggeranong selection, the cherry on top of a remarkable season which saw him win man of the match in the Griffin Legal John I Dent Cup as well as earning himself a Plus Brumbies contract for 2019
Much of the Brumbies U19 team’s spine came from Queanbeyan, Fred Kaihea, Zane Marlot, Wyll Holland and Will Goddard all worthy of national recognition following terrific tournaments at the URC.
Ben Love and Lachlan Osbourne fly the Owls flag for this year, with both having stood out as real prospects at the URC. Rory Scott and Kristian Jensen make up the Marist attendees at the U20 training camp.
Tauti Chan-Tung and Lincoln Smith are the lone representatives from Wests and Royals respectively, both having played mostly first-grade footy in the John I Dent Cup last season.
Former Brumbies Prop and U19 Head Coach Ruaidhri Murphy took the forwards for the Junior Wallabies last season and is expected to reprise his role in 2019.
Fred Kaihea (QBN)
Lachlan Lonergan (Vikings)
Tauati Chan-Tung (Wests)
Zane Marolt (QBN)
Rory Scott (Marist)
Ben Love (Uni-Norths)
Lachlan Osbourne (Uni-Norths)
Wyll Holland (QBN)
Seamus Smith (Vikings)
Will Goddard (QBN)
Noah Lolesio (Vikings)
Billy Carberry (Vikings)
Lincoln Smith (Royals)
Kristian Jensen (Marist)
