CAS Rugby 2023

[RedOrDead]

Aden Ekanayake is one of the best stories in schoolboy footy.

He was never seen as a potential 1stXV player. He barely snuck in to the team… I believe he even played some of his junior footy in the B’s.

As of today he has captained the under 18 Australian 7’s team, and the junior wallabies….

 

[RedOrDead]

Well done to all those involved in their journey and hopefully we can get a win against NZ!

Despite the debacle that is the senior team, schoolboy rugby continues to be a shining light in the Aus rugby landscape.

It would help if we weren’t letting some of our best players rot on the bench… guys like Hwi Sharples, Boston Fakafanua etc.

Our juniors usually look great (apart from like 2020 or 21 when we lost to Argentina and then got killed by NZ by like 70), let’s hold on to these ones.

 

[Jumping_jack]

Aden Ekanayake is one of the best stories in schoolboy footy.

He was never seen as a potential 1stXV player. He barely snuck in to the team… I believe he even played some of his junior footy in the B’s.

As of today he has captained the under 18 Australian 7’s team, and the junior wallabies….

Incredible, well done to the young man.

This is why the net must also be cast wide, to make sure kids have more chance of succeeding and growing into the sport. Well done to Barker for helping him develop.

It is also two years in a row the Aus u18’s captain came through Barker. Well done.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Aden Ekanayake is one of the best stories in schoolboy footy.

He was never seen as a potential 1stXV player. He barely snuck in to the team… I believe he even played some of his junior footy in the B’s.

As of today he has captained the under 18 Australian 7’s team, and the junior wallabies….

Love this bloke. He has so much potential.

Intrested to see how he goes in 15s long term as he still seems an athlete first but it reminds me of Nick Frost.

He’s a legitimate chance of going to the Olympics in 7s.

 

[Homer]

NSW U18s undefeated but only 5 starters? Also, I cant remember seeing a lot of these QLD names play last week. Were they in the Schools teams or the academy teams?

 

[RedOrDead]

Love this bloke. He has so much potential.

He's a great kid. And a really good player. As an aerial threat he's ridiculous, also massive in the line outs. He really needs to put on some size though.

Hopefully being in these elite pathways, he'll get the nutritional advice and weights program to get there. Cause he definitely has the commitment.

However, like you said he could choose to go gown the 7's route where that won't be as much of an issue.

 

[RedOrDead]

NSW U18s undefeated but only 5 starters? Also, I cant remember seeing a lot of these QLD names play last week. Were they in the Schools teams or the academy teams?

I feel like this first game must be merely a trial, because there's no way some of those NSW boys are actually sitting on that bench.

I mean the vice captain Hwi Sharples has been benched. Hopefully that's a tell we are just hiding our best for the second game on Monday.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Just for the Olympics ideally then I’d love to see him move into 15s and eventually play 6 for the Tahs.

 

[Schoolboyrugby23]

It’s interesting to see that Sam Niuala was chosen in the CAS 2nds team but then is starting in Aus schoolboys

 

[Famed_Star]

It’s interesting to see that Sam Niuala was chosen in the CAS 2nds team but then is starting in Aus schoolboys

Wasn’t even selected at backrow.. selected in the second row.

Not in the top 6 backrowers for CAS, but the best no 8 in the country..

just shows the continued inept choices of the CAS selectors.

 

[2 + 2]

Wasn’t even selected at backrow.. selected in the second row.

Not in the top 6 backrowers for CAS, but the best no 8 in the country..

just shows the continued inept choices of the CAS selectors.

he didnt wear the right colour socks in the CAS competition

 

[Hankspank]

I feel like this first game must be merely a trial, because there's no way some of those NSW boys are actually sitting on that bench.

I mean the vice captain Hwi Sharples has been benched. Hopefully that's a tell we are just hiding our best for the second game on Monday.

Fowler Australian U/20’s # 10 !!

 

[Hankspank]

NSW U18s undefeated but only 5 starters? Also, I cant remember seeing a lot of these QLD names play last week. Were they in the Schools teams or the academy teams?

They played last week

 

[Game_Day_Ritual]

Wasn’t even selected at backrow.. selected in the second row.

Not in the top 6 backrowers for CAS, but the best no 8 in the country..

just shows the continued inept choices of the CAS selectors.

Sammy is a no 8 every day of the week not a Lock, he's a super star of a kid on and off the field. I hope he has a blinder.

 

[RedOrDead]

Fowler Australian U/20’s # 10 !!

Yeah this is especially shocking given the inexperience of Joe Walsh in comparison (although he is a great player). This definitely isn't out strongest team. We are clearly saving them for later, not to worry.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

I like Walsh but Fowler was included in the initial U20s squads before the WC.

 

[Scrumsforlife68]

I like Walsh but Fowler was included in the initial U20s squads before the WC.

Why though? The NZ team will 100% be putting their best team forward. Why aren’t we? It’s so clear. No wonder Australian rugby is a joke. No wonder everyone goes to league. Appalled

 

[Halfbackenthusiast]

Aden Ekanayake is one of the best stories in schoolboy footy.

He was never seen as a potential 1stXV player. He barely snuck in to the team… I believe he even played some of his junior footy in the B’s.

As of today he has captained the under 18 Australian 7’s team, and the junior wallabies….

He played only bs up until u16s but I thought barker couldn’t develop players

 

[Halfbackenthusiast]

Why though? The NZ team will 100% be putting their best team forward. Why aren’t we? It’s so clear. No wonder Australian rugby is a joke. No wonder everyone goes to league. Appalled

I think rugby australia are doing this to target walsh, they see him as high risk of leaving to league or uk as his brothers did. Fowler is already contracted but giving walsh every opportunity is gonna make him more likely to stay in the 15 man code

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Why though? The NZ team will 100% be putting their best team forward. Why aren’t we? It’s so clear. No wonder Australian rugby is a joke. No wonder everyone goes to league. Appalled

No idea. And it’s nothing against Walsh but I struggle to see how a guy considered the 3rd best 10 under 20 in the country 6 months ago can’t start for this game.

Could very well start the 2nd game and it’s about exposing them all. At the end of the day this level is a nice experience and we want to win but with the new U19s championships I hope