Allan Alaalatoa will represent the Australian Under 20s for a second year.
Six ACT players have been named in the Australian U20s side which will compete in an initial world-cup warm up tournament where they will face Samoa and Fiji schoolboys.
Allan Alaalatoa, Joel Penders, Rowan Perry, Andrew Robinson, Tom Staniforth and Joseph Powell have all been named in the initial squad, which will be culled back to a more modest 28 for the World Cup in New Zealand, later this year.
With Alaalatoa (University of Canberra Brumbies), Luke Burton (Western Force), David Horwitz (NSW Waratahs), and Sean McMahon (RaboDirect Rebels) all contracted to Super Rugby teams, the Australian team are set to shake the competition up after a disappointing result in 2013.
Head Coach Adrian Thompson is excited about his players having the opportunity to compete against two strong Pacific nations in the lead up to the IRB Junior World Championships.
“The matches against Fiji and Samoa on the Gold Coast will be an excellent opportunity for us to test players in positions and continue our selection process.”
“We are determined to improve on our seventh place in the IRB Junior World Championships in Paris last year. This squad knows there is a lot of hard work to come if they want to be selected in the squad heading to the competition in June.”
Australian Under 20s squad
Allan Alaalatoa ACT
Tom Banks QLD
Luke Burton WA
Sam Croke NSW
Andrew Deegan NSW
Jack Dempsey NSW
Lalakai Foketi VIC
Scott Gale QLD
Michael Gunn QLD
Ross Haylett-Petty WA
David Horwitz NSW
Alifeliti Kaitu’u QLD
Andrew Kellaway NSW
Brad Lacy WA
Jake McIntyre QLD
Sean McMahon VIC
Rory O’Connor NSW
Cameron Orr NSW
Jack Payne QLD
Joel Penders ACT
Rowan Perry ACT
Matthew Philip NSW
Jonah Placid QLD
Joseph Powell ACT
Angus Pulver NSW
Tom Robertson NSW
Andrew Robinson ACT
Harry Scoble WA
Pat Sio NSW
Tom Staniforth ACT
Jimmy Stewart NSW
Johnny Vaux NSW
Tevita Vea NSW
Australian Under 20s key dates 2014:
22 April-4 May 2014 International Preparation Tournament
Bond University, Gold Coast
20-29 May 2014 IRB Junior World Cup Assembly Camp
Narrabeen Academy of Sport, Sydney
30 May-21 June 2014 IRB Junior World
Auckland, New Zealand
