Seven Brumbies have been named in the 30-player squad to contest the World Rugby U20 Championship in Italy later this month.
Lipita Ata, Finn Baxter, Ollie Aylmer, Eli Langi, Beau Morrison, Joe Dillon and Shane Wilcox are all in head coach Chris Whitaker's squad.
Six of the seven played in our U19's Championship-winning team last year, with Langi not involved as he was still at school. However, je did play in the Australian U18's team last year that beat New Zealand Schoolboys across the ditch.
Head of elite pathways and development Daniel Hooper was delighted to see such a strong cohort of Brumbies receive recognition for their form.
"It's exciting to again have such strong representation in the Australian U20s team for this year's Junior World Cup, with seven Brumbies players selected," Hooper said.
"Our Brumbies U19 program has been a strong focus of the past two years, with the ultimate goal of trying to produce Australian U20 representatives and Super Rugby Pacific players for the Brumbies.
"Having won back-to-back U19 Super Rugby Championships, we are now seeing the fruits of that labour reflected in National team selections with the seven current players selected adding to the 10 players selected for last years Junior World Cup.
"Encouragingly the majority of the seven players had not played for any Australian age group sides in previous years, illustrating the strength of our development programs."
The squad will assemble in Sydney in two weeks' time before departing for Italy on Saturday 21st June. The tournament runs Sunday 29th June to Sunday 20th July, with Australia U20 drawn in Pool A alongside defending champions England U20, South Africa U20 and Scotland U20.
Brumbies players selected in Australia U20s squad for World Championship in Italy:
Lipina Ata
- Age: 19
- Position: Hooker
- Height: 177cm
- Weight: 123kg
- Lipina went from non-selection in the first few camps, to getting a start in the last game of this year's The Rugby Championship U20s in South Africa. A hooker who can also cover prop in a crisis.
Finn Baxter
- Age: 20
- Position: Prop
- Height: 192cm
- Weight: 114kg
- Finn is the son of former Wallaby Al Baxter. After playing hooker at school, he is in only his second full year of playing prop.
Ollie Aylmer
- Age: 20
- Position: Lock
- Height: 197cm
- Weight: 112kg
- Ollie is also eligible for the USA, as he was born there. A bit of a bolter who didn't make any NSW state rep teams in the past few years, but used last year's Brumbies U19s win as a launching pad to make this squad.
Eli Langi
- Age: 18
- Position: Backrow
- Height: 191cm
- Weight: 104kg
- Eli played in the Brumbies Super Rugby Pacific trials at the start of this year against NSW Waratahs and Western Force, despite his young age. He'll be eligible for the Brumbies U19s this season.
Beau Morrison
- Age: 19
- Position: Backrow
- Height: 193cm
- Weight: 96kg
- Played Australian Youth 7s in 2022. He scored an 83rd minute try in the U20s recent 29-all draw against New Zealand U20s in the opening Rugby Championship U20 match at Gqeberha.
Joe Dillon
- Age: 20
- Position: Fly half
- Height: 180cm
- Weight: 98kg
- Played in last year's Junior World Championship, so attending his second Junior World Cup tournament.
Shane Wilcox
- Age: 20
- Position: Full back
- Height: 189cm
- Weight: 86kg
- St Edmunds College Canberra Old Boy who captained the Brumbies U19s to the title in 2024 and also played in the U19s team that won the 2023 Championship. This is Shane's second Junior World Cup having played in last year's event also.
