IRB U/20 Tournament and Oz Squad

[PaarlBok]

Thought I'll share some U20 news from SA with you. The Varsity Cup organisers have decided to add an U20 section in the competition. This is exciting because it will bring in our most talented schoolboy players to the fore.

Sport24

Varsity Cup U20 unveiled

Johannesburg - Hot on the heels of the success of the inaugural Varsity Shield, the Varsity Cup Exco has announced another new and exciting expansion to the Varsity Cup with the addition of an Under-20 tournament.
This students-only Varsity Cup Under-20 tournament, as with the Varsity Shield and the Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championships, will run parallel with the Varsity Cup in 2012.

Like the Varsity Cup proper it will involve the same eight teams, with the universities seeded according to their senior teams' performances in the four-year history of the FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International.

These eight teams will be divided into two pools of four each (according to their seedings), with the universities playing three league matches followed by the semifinals and the final; with the latter set to be played as a curtain-raiser to the 2012 Varsity Shield Final.

All Varsity Cup U20 matches will be played as curtain-raisers to Varsity Cup fixtures, as the country's best schoolboy players get the opportunity to step straight into the Varsity Cup in their first year out of school - encouraging more aspiring rugby players to combine professional careers with an education.

"Given the student quota that we have in the Varsity Cup, a students-only Under-20 tournament - where all players must be fulltime students at their respective universities - will help the universities identify their bona fide students for promotion to the Varsity Cup proper," explained Varsity Cup Managing Director Duitser Bosman.

"We need to help our member universities of the Varsity Cup to be internally strong from the 'juniors' through to the 'big boys'."

Bosman continued: "At the same time, it will also allow the South African Under-20 coaches to cast their net a bit wider when it comes to SA U20 selection - especially with the IRB World Junior Championships set to be held on our own turf next year.

"As we saw with the Varsity Shield this year, there is tremendous depth at universities level and this gives another 16 coaches, eight managers and plus/minus 240 (more) players the opportunity to experience being a part of the Varsity Cup."

SA Under-20 coach Dawie Theron added: "This really is wonderful news!

"The northern hemisphere teams have their own Six Nations tournament - running parallel with the senior Six Nations tournament - and I've always felt we needed something like this ahead of the IRB World Champs which takes place before our local provincial tournaments kick-off.

"My job is not just about coaching the SA Under-20 team, but also about unearthing new, young talent and a tournament like this can only benefit South African rugby on the whole. I'm very grateful to the Varsity Cup for allowing this - it's great news for junior rugby in South Africa!"

 

[Iluvmyfooty]

Oh if only here in OZ...........................

 

[Brumby Jack]

On Hooper and Colby etc - I thought that the Brumbies would have selection conflicts when they contracted 3 specialist 7s. Jake White will inherit the same problem and have to deal with having one fewer contract spot available, in effect.

LG, the Brumbies are letting Fainga'a III and Hooper go to the U 20's since the season is gone and would probably be more beneficial for them to go and get away from everything that's been happening here.

 

[qwerty51]

That would've been why Salvi packed at 8 on the weekend, who's the next 7?

 

[Ash]

Vaea should be back, so Salvi will be the 7. No idea who's after that, don't think they have one, so a backrow utility would have to fill in unless they call someone up from club rugby. Vanderglas or someone might be called up I guess.

 

[Lee Grant]

What happen to Rodney Esekia from Canberra?Did he trial?

No, he didn't.

 

[Hawko]

If Shipperley is staying with the Reds who is likely to get his spot? I haven't seen any comment on this at all.

 

[Slim 293]

The Reds are denying them Shipperley?

Lame...

 

[high tower]

Woodhouse from Manly via Easts looks like he might get Shipperlys spot.

 

[Red Rooster]

The Reds are denying them Shipperley?

Lame...

Have you even considered that Shipperley might prefer to stay as he has finally cracked an opportunity with the Reds while he has already played for the u20's

 

[tranquility]

That might be so, but I think it is very important for the development of these players to do well in these competitions and play a leadership role. Potentially, Dom may have been one of the biggest attacking threats in the comp and its a shame to leave that kind of artillery behind.

 

[Slim 293]

Have you even considered that Shipperley might prefer to stay as he has finally cracked an opportunity with the Reds while he has already played for the u20's

The Brumbies are giving up their two preferred opensides (who have both already played for the u20's), yet are currently facing a massive forwards injury toll...

I think the Reds are being a little selfish here...

 

[RugbyReg]

The Brumbies are giving up their two preferred opensides (who have both already played for the u20's), yet are currently facing a massive forwards injury toll...

I think the Reds are being a little selfish here...

The Brumbies are sitting at the tail end of the ladder.

The Reds are at the top and are title contenders.

In the scheme of things, a Super Rugby titled is more important to Australian Rugby than an Under 20s World Cup win.

 

[Slim 293]

The Brumbies are sitting at the tail end of the ladder.

The Reds are at the top and are title contenders.

In the scheme of things, a Super Rugby titled is more important to Australian Rugby than an Under 20s World Cup win.

That's bollocks.

The Brumbies might not be in a position to contest for the finals but they still have important games they want to win against local rivals such as the Tahs, the Reds and the Rebels.

Add to this they're crippled with injuries to many forwards, yet they're still offering up Fainga'a and Hooper.

The Reds knew well in advance that any of their players eligible for U20's would miss the last few weeks of the season.

Are the Tahs hanging onto Kingston? They're also fighting for a finals spot and have injuries to outside backs...

I don't think we can have an exception for one team.

 

[RugbyReg]

Colby is captain.

Australia U20s - player profiles attached
Forwards: Paul Alo-Emile (WA), Jarrad Butler (QLD), Blake Enever (QLD), Colby
Fainga'a (ACT), Liam Gill (QLD), Michael Hooper (ACT), Luke Jones (VIC), Bill Meakes
(NSW), Tim Metcher (ACT), Greg Peterson (NSW), JP Pradaud (ACT), Eddie Quirk (QLD),
Hugh Roach (ACT), Siliva Siliva (WA), Scott Sio (NSW)
Backs: James Ambrosini (ACT), Eddie Bredenhann (ACT), Joel Faulkner (QLD), Tom
Kingston (NSW), Tevita Kuridrani (QLD), Apo Latunipulu (NSW), Matt Lucas (QLD),
Simon Morahan (QLD), Rohan Saifoloi (NSW), Kimami Sitauti (QLD), Ben Volavola (NSW),
Jacob Woodhouse (NSW)

Match Schedule/Telecast details

Pool Game 1
Friday 10th June - Australia v Tonga
Venue: Stadio Mario Battaglini, Rovigo
Kickoff: 6:10pm local / 2:10am (Sat) AEST
Not telecast

Pool Game 2
Tuesday 14th June - Australia v Fiji
Venue: Stadio Plebiscito, Padova
Kickoff: 6:10pm local / 2:10am (Wed) AEST
Not telecast

Pool Game 3
Saturday 18th June - Australia v France
Venue: Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso
Kickoff: 20:10 local / 4:10am (Sun) AEST

LIVE Fox Sports 1 - 4am

Semi Finals
Wednesday 22nd June, Treviso
Venue: Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso
Semi 1 (2nd seed v 3rd seed): 18:00 local /2am (Thurs) AEST
Semi 2 (1st seed v 4th seed): 20:10 local/4.10am (Thurs) AEST

LIVE Fox Sports 2 - 2am/ 4am

JWC Finals
Sunday 26th June
Venue: Stadio Plebiscito, Padova
3 v 4
Kickoff: 17:10 local / 1:10am (Mon) AEST
LIVE Fox Sports 3 - 1am
1v 2
Kickoff: 19:10 local / 3:10am (Mon) AEST
LIVE Fox Sports 3 - 3am

 

[RugbyReg]

That's bollocks.

The Brumbies might not be in a position to contest for the finals but they still have important games they want to win against local rivals such as the Tahs, the Reds and the Rebels.

Add to this they're crippled with injuries to many forwards, yet they're still offering up Fainga'a and Hooper.

The Reds knew well in advance that any of their players eligible for U20's would miss the last few weeks of the season.

Are the Tahs hanging onto Kingston? They're also fighting for a finals spot and have injuries to outside backs...

I don't think we can have an exception for one team.

well perhaps its more to do with the Brumbies. Dom (and indeed Liam etc) want to stay and play with the Reds. Perhaps Colby and Michael don't want to hang around and play for the Brumbies? For them its probably more worthwhile that they go and play for the 20s. They may get better development out of it.

And I think we can have an exception.

The priority set by JON pre-season was a Wallaby World Cup win and an Aussie team winning the Super Rugby comp.

Under 20 squad selection shouldn't come at the detriment to those.

 

[Brumbies Guy]

Perhaps Colby and Michael don't want to hang around and play for the Brumbies?

Both have been quoted saying their preference was to see out the season with Brumbies.

 

[RugbyReg]

besides, its not as if the Reds are not supporting the team.

There's 3 of our Reds squad in there and 7 of our Academy.

So if we don't let Shipperley play they've also taken Kimani, and a number of other outside backs who would provide additional cover.

 

[RugbyReg]

Both have been quoted saying their preference was to see out the season with Brumbies.

of course they have...

 

[Slim 293]

It stinks that the reds are being this selfish...

The Brumbies and the Tahs Should recall their players...