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NSW Waratahs General Manager of Rugby Tim Rapp has released his under 20 and under 19 elite development squads for 2017 ahead of the second Super 20s tournament to be held later this year.
The two squads have been split for the first time in 2017, with the under 20s set to focus on the upcoming tournament while the under 19s take a more developmental approach.
Former Waratah Matt Bowman and former Joeys mentor Greg Thompson will coach the under 20s squad which includes 16 players from last year’s campaign.
“A few of those guys have been playing Sevens, a couple of other guys have had injuries and then there’s probably six or seven school leavers, 19-year olds who have pushed their way into the under 20s squad, then we’ve got some good club players who add a lot of toughness to the group,” Rapp said.
“It’s a very different group to last year and they all have different strengths but it’s starting to come together quite nicely. They seem to get along quite well and they’re all really good kids.”
After winning the National Championship in 2014 and 2015, NSW didn't qualify for the final in last year’s inaugural Super 20s competition, but Rapp said the coaching staff have learnt a lot from their experiences in 2016.
“We probably had too big a squad last year and I think it affected our performance,” he said.
“The guys that are returning from last year have been taking part in an athletic development program for the last 12 months, so they’re consistency of training is great and when we started in November, those guys were physically a long way in front of the new guys in the program.
“Hopefully we’ll see similar results next year when out current under 19s group are ready to step up into the under 20s program.”
The squad completes one off-field and two on-field sessions per week and three morning weights sessions however players are given the option to complete their weight sessions in the evening to suit their work commitments.
“There’s a good spread of clubs represented. You’ve obviously got some dominant clubs like Uni and Randwick but you’ve got guys from Warringah, guys from Southern Districts, we’ve got Jacob Banner from Penrith and Siale Fifita from Parramatta which is great,” Rapp said.
While Rapp acknowledged the squad still needed plenty of work ahead of the Super 20s tournament, he said he was happy with the development of the new and returning platers.
“Harry Johnson-Holmes has really stepped up, we’ve dropped him in a few Waratahs sessions and he’s really held his own and learnt plenty from it. Lachlan Swinton has been handy, he’s a good No.6 from Uni. Tommy Piroddi from Randwick has come back at a different physical level so it’ll be interesting to see him play,” he said.
“Theo Strang has come back from a broken leg. That injury is ongoing but he should be good to go for the tournament. Timmy Clements, a fullback from Uni was great for us last year, then potentially we get Ryan McCauley back from the Waratahs squad as well.
“Some of the new guys have also impressed me. Banjo Travers, a No.9 from Uni has been handy. Dom McGrath, a backrower from Southern Districts has been great, he’s tough and plays hard. Eddy King has come out of the woodwork a bit and is looking really good as well.”
The NSW 20s begin their Super 20s campaign against the Western Force in Sydney on February 25.
NSW Waratahs EPD2 (U20s)
Lachlan Anderson, Jacob Banner, Daniel Boardman, Philip Bradford, Harry Chapman, Tim Clements, Hutana Coffin, Justin Cooper, Alec Corcoran, Siale Fifita, Max Girdler, Henry Hutchison, Harry Johnson - Holmes, Ezra Chee-Kan, Simon Kennewell, Eddy King, Kepu Lokotui, Ryan McCauley, Dom McGrath, Harry McLennan, Will McRae, Sam Musgrave, Jack Nettleton, Josh Noonan, Tom Piroddi, James Ramm, Lachie Simpson, Max Stewert, Theo Strang, Lachlan Swinton, Sepesa Tarogi, Banjo Travers, Cody Walker, Joe Williams.
NSW Waratahs EDP1 (U19s)
Bo Abra, James Armstrong, Jacob Bristowe, Nick Brown, Will Harrison, Sean Hasegawa, Will Haskins, Luke Hurditch, Tyzac Jordan, Josh Kemeny, Bayley Kuenzle, Nathan lawson, Ryan Longville, Delahoya Manu, Hugh Margin, Dan Matthew, Jackson Mohi, Jordan Morris, Matthew Orpa, Tom Osborne, Patrick Pelligrini, Dylan Pietsch, Charles Rorke, Darcy Searl, Connor Size, Rory Suttor, Will Terry, DJ Tifa, Harry Turner, Dylan valeni, James Wayland, William Wennerbom, Nick Wilkinson, Yirribi Jaffer Williams, Angus Windred, Lachlan Windred.
Be interesting to see who these players play for.
I believe Bailey Kuenzle and James Wayland have been moved up to the 20s
