A 14-strong New South Wales contingent helped Australian Schoolboys post an overwhelming 70-13 victory over Tongan Schools at St. Mary’s Leagues Stadium on Saturday. As well as contributing five tries (including a hat trick to Lalakai Foketi), NSW representatives kicked a further 20 points, with Jake McIntyre and Tom Wilson converting every one of team’s 10 tries.
In total, eight schools were represented, with St Ignatius College, The King’s School and The Scots College each providing three players and Trinity Grammar School, Alstonville High School, St Augustine’s College, Barker College and The Shore School students also gaining selection.
An important stepping stone to senior honours, being selected for the Australian Schoolboys is the pinnacle of Schoolboy Rugby in Australia. Of the current HSBC Waratahs squad, 17 represented Australia at schoolboy level, amongst them King’s School trio Benn Robinson, Dean Mumm and Daniel Halangahu, Barker College flanker Chris Alcock and Scot’s College lock Greg Peterson.
“What is great about the strength of the NSW representation is the students come from a real cross section of schools,” said Geoffrey Garland, youth representative on the NSW Rugby Union Board and a former vice president of NSW Schools.
“As well as the Greater Public Schools like St Ignatius, Scots, King’s and Shore and Independent Schools like St Augustine’s, Combined Associated Schools are represented through Barker and Trinity and Combined High Schools by Alstonville.
“Traditionally, many students at GPS and Combined Associated Schools have played rugby from an early age but as Rugby further broadens its base, we are seeing more and more students get the opportunity to play rugby and to reach their potential.”
To illustrate his point, Garland cites the career paths of two current HSBC Waratahs hookers, both former Australian Schoolboys. “Tatafu Polota-Nau went to Granville South High School, spent a couple of years in NSW seconds and played colts for his local club Parramatta.
“Damien Fitzpatrick came through the well known Rugby nursery St Joseph’s College and played junior rugby for the Mosman Whales. Both have done superbly well and what’s important for us is to make sure that as many people as possible have the opportunity to reach their Rugby potential, irrespective of the route they take.”
The result wraps up the Australian Schools Rugby Union schedule for a month, before the squad to tour Fiji and New Zealand is named on August 14. They will meet the Fijian President’s XV in Nadi (September 22) and Fijian Schools in Lautoka three days later before travelling to New Zealand to take on the New Zealand Barbarians in Auckland (September 29) and Samoan Schools in Hamilton (October 2) before returning to Auckland to take on the New Zealand Schools (October 6) for the final match of the tour.
Australian Schoolboys 70 d Tongan Schools 13
Australian Schoolboys: tries - Aaron Pleash, Mitchell Whiteley, Andrew Robinson, Jim Stewart, Moli Sooaemalelagi, Mitchell Gunn (2), Lalakai Foketi (3); cons - Jake McIntyre (2), Tom Wilson (8).
Tongan Schools: tries - Jonathon Lokotui; cons - Mosese Latu; pens – Latu (2).
The penultimate fixture on the calendar to date was the Australia A Schools fixture against Tongan Schools that saw the home side record a 29-5 at St. Ignatius’ College, Riverview on Wednesday July 11.
NSW are also the current Novotel Australian Schools Rugby Champions after they ended Queensland’s six year dominance with a 26-7 tournament victory at St. Ignatius’ College on July 7.
Around 2,000 spectators gathered for the championship final which saw NSW emerge victors with a three tries to one performance, with Scots College wing Andrew Kellaway securing two of his side’s five pointers.
The possible inclusion of further NSW players from the successful Australia A side for the tour to Fiji and New Zealand suggests further growth in the opportunities for schoolboy rugby across the state.
Australian Schoolboys squad (23) for Tongan Schools fixture.
|
Name
|
School
|
Team
|
|
Jack Cornelsen
|
Brisbane Grammar School
|
QLD 1
|
|
Jack Dempsey
|
St Ignatius College
|
NSW 1
|
|
Lolo Fakaosilea
|
Brisbane Boys College
|
QLD 1
|
|
Andrew Ferris
|
The Kings School
|
NSW 2
|
|
Lalakai Foketi
|
The Kings School
|
NSW 2
|
|
Michael Gunn
|
Anglican Church Grammar
|
QLD 1
|
|
David Horwitz
|
The Scots College
|
NSW 1
|
|
Harry Jones
|
The Kings School
|
NSW 2
|
|
Siotame Kavapalu
|
Rowville Secondary College
|
VIC
|
|
Andrew Kellaway
|
The Scots College
|
NSW 1
|
|
Jake McIntyre
|
Alstonville High School
|
NSW 1
|
|
Neori Nadruku
|
St Edmund’s College
|
ACT
|
|
Cameron Orr
|
Trinity Grammar School
|
NSW 2
|
|
Matthew Philip
|
St Augustine’s College
|
NSW 2
|
|
Jonah Placid
|
Toowoomba Grammar School
|
QLD 1
|
|
Aaron Pleash
|
Ipswich Grammar School
|
QLD 1
|
|
Angus Pulver
|
The Shore School
|
CS
|
|
Andrew Robinson
|
St Mary MacKillop College
|
ACT
|
|
Harry Rorke
|
St Ignatius College
|
NSW 1
|
|
Moli Sooaemalelagi
|
Roxburgh Park Sec College
|
VIC
|
|
Jim Stewart
|
The Scots College
|
NSW 1
|
|
Mitchell Whiteley
|
St Ignatius College
|
NSW 1
|
|
Tom Wilson
|
Barker College
|
NSW 1
|
Team management:
Paul Geddes, Manager (NSW)
John Rownes, Assistant Manager (NSW)
Stephen Phillpotts, Coach (QLD)
Tim Rapp, Assistant Coach (NSW)
William Maher, Physiotherapist (ACT)
Michael McLean, Doctor (QLD)
Andy Clark, Technical Assistant (ACT)
Darren Clunn, Strength and Conditioning, (ACT)