The likes of Kurtley Beale and Rob Horne are regulars for the NSW Waratahs, while Quade Cooper and Will Genia play for the Queensland Reds and Sam Wykes and David Pocock for the Western Force. Dane Haylett-Petty made his Super 14 debut off the bench in the Force’s last minute win over the Chiefs over the weekend, while Alfi Mafi has played for the Waratahs and Ben Daley and Rob Simmons are contracted to the Reds.
Mafi and Connor have both played for the Australian Sevens team on the IRB Sevens World Series this year and are just two of a number of the squad who helped Australia finish third in the defence of their IRB U19 World Championship title in 2007. The squad could yet be subject to change with players named also in contention for the Wallabies and Australia A squads for the summer Tests and IRB Pacific Nations Cup, but Melrose is determined his side will be challenging for the title in Wales.
“It’s a highly competitive squad to get into and now we’re looking forward to our final preparations for the tournament,” said Melrose, who coached the Western Sydney Rams to the last four of the Australian Rugby Championship last year. “Of course future selection of the Wallabies and Australia A may have a bearing on the final squad, but we’ve picked the best team available and we intend to be very competitive in Wales. Many of the teams at the World Championships will be full of players with provincial experience and playing in these tournaments presents our young players with a great stepping stone on the way to the Wallabies.”
Melrose has also named a twelve strong shadow squad to cover for any withdrawals or injuries, one that includes Mitchell Inman who has played alongside his older brother Luke for the Australian Sevens team this year. Australia U20, who will face England U20, Canada U20 and Fiji U20 in Pool C at Rodney Parade in Newport, have a one-day training session on 12th May 2008 before beginning their final preparations at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra on 20th May.
Australia U20 Squad (* are players with at least one Super 14 appearance)
Albert Anae, *Kurtley Beale, Peter Betham, Nathan Charles, *Blair Connor, *Quade Cooper, Ben Coridas, *Ben Daley, Tetera Faulkner, *Will Genia, James Hanson, *Dane Haylett-Petty, *Robert Horne, Seilala Lam, Richard Kingi, *Alfi Mafi, Ben McCalman, Tom Murday, Ratu Nasiganiyavi, Daniel Palmer, *David Pocock, Andrew Rossiter, Robert Simmons, Jeremy Sua, Ben Tapuai, *Sam Wykes
Shadow Squad: Kane Douglas, Damien Fitzpatrick, Mitchell Inman, Rowan Kellam, Sam Latinipuli, Sitiveni Mafi, Patrick McCabe, Jordan McGregor, Jesse Mogg, James Slipper, Junior Sovala, Micah Watene
