2013 IRB Junior World Championship - France

[SuperGrover]

The Under-20 RBS 6 nations will kick off on 1 February 2013.


1 Feb (17:45) England v Scotland - Plymouth Albion RFC

1 Feb (18:00) Italy v France - Stodio Marco Tomaselli, Caltanisetta, Sicily

1 Feb (19:10) Wales v Ireland - Parc Eirias, Colwyn Bay

8 Feb (19:30) Scotland v Italy - Netherdale, Galashiels

8 Feb (19:35) Ireland v England - Dubarry Park, Athlone

10 Feb (13:00) France v Wales - Stade Marcel Michelin, Clermont-Ferrand

22 Feb (18:00) Italy v Wales - Viterbo

22 Feb (19:30) Scotland v Ireland - Netherdale, Galashiels

23 Feb (15:00) England v France - Worcester RFC

8 Mar (19:35) Scotland v Wales - Caledonian Football Club, Inverness

8 Mar (19:45) Ireland v France - Dubarry Park, Athlone

8 Mar (20:05) England v Itlay - Northampton RFC

15 Mar (18:00) Italy v Ireland - Stadio di Avezzano, L'Aquila

15 Mar(19:30) Wales v England - Parc Eirias, Colwyn Bay

17 Mar (13:00) France v Scotland - Stade Amedee Domenech, Brive


England were the 2012 winners, however, they managed only 7th at the JWC (ahead of only Scotland and Italy from the 6 Nations). Some of this is due to teams such as Wales electing to leave out eight players from the 6 Nations squad who were playing regular rugby with their clubs.

Therefore, the 6 Nations may be somewhat of a dubious marker for success at the JWC, but is a useful way to pass the time and get acquainted with many of the European players.

 

[Iluvmyfooty]

Especiallty as ireland is in the Oz group

 

[Lee Grant]

Because of this series 6N U/20s will always have it over the 4N U/20s in the areas of pre-tournament training and the selection process.

It's amazing how well the Kiwis always do, and the SAffers last year, not because of having such a series of matches but despite not having such.

At the very least Oz should try to arrange a home and away game with NZ every year before the squad is picked for the IRB tournament.

But it is an old song I sing.
.

 

[qwerty51]

The SA u20s played a varsity team on the weekend, spanked them by 60 odd I think. It's amazing the ARU haven't really done anything here despite the recent results.

 

[Iluvmyfooty]

The SA u20s played a varsity team on the weekend, spanked them by 60 odd I think. It's amazing the ARU haven't really done anything here despite the result.

Agree as far as I can tell there have been a couple of training days before christmas with a couple of state games planned for April. Maybe they don't want to interfere with the clubs and their preseason training and early games but i believe the team will be underdone again before the tournamment. The europeans will have their 6 nations, the SA have picked their team (?)from what is said above and the NZer's have had regular trainings and prep

 

[SuperGrover]

England has named a 32-man squad to defend the under 20 Six Nations title.

Since its formation in 2007, the England U20 side have won three Six Nations Grand Slams (2008, 2011 and 2012), and been runners-up in the Junior World Championship on three occasions (2008, 2009 and 2011).

In 2012 some national selectors chose not to select players for the Six Nations where it was believed their development would be better served staying with their clubs (most notably the Welsh, who went on to claim third in the JWC).

England, however, has selected a strong squad for the Six Nations, perhaps due to the pressure on Rob Hunter following England’s worst ever performance at the Junior World Championship in 2012.

The squad includes 15 players capped at U20 level, whilst another five of the squad represented England at U18 level last season.

Forwards to keep an eye on include Kyle Sinckler and Scott Spurling, whilst in the backs Anthony Watson and Jack Arnott will be ones to watch. One other of interest is Jack Clifford who should be the starting No. 8 and was born in Brisbane, Australia.

Although it can be safely assumed that the majority of this squad will head to France in June, a new squad will be announced prior to the IRB Junior World Championship.

England U20 Six Nations Squad

Rob Hunter (Head Coach)
Nick Walshe (Assistant Coach)

Forwards

Dominic Barrow** (Leeds Carnegie) – Lock/Back Row
Jack Clifford** (Harlequins) – Back Row
Luke Cowan Dickie** (Exeter Chiefs) – Prop
Max Crumpton** (Saracens) – Hooker
Matt Hankin (Saracens) – Back Row
Alec Hepburn** (London Wasps) – Prop
Tom Jubb (Saracens) – Lock
Ross Moriarty* (Gloucester) – Back Row
Nathan Morris** (London Wasps) – Hooker
Tom Price** (Leicester Tigers) – Lock
Kyle Sinckler** (Harlequins) – Prop
David Sisi** (London Irish) – Back Row
Scott Spurling** (Saracens) – Hooker
Elliott Stooke** (Gloucester) – Lock
Harry Wells (Leicester Tigers) – Lock
Scott Wilson* (Newcastle Falcons) – Prop

Backs

Jack Arnott (Exeter Chiefs) – Wing/Fullback
Callum Braley* (Bristol) – Scrumhalf
Tom Collins (Northampton Saints) – Centre/Fullback
Alex Day** (Northampton Saints) – Scrumhalf
Ollie Devoto (Bath) – Fly Half
Nathan Fowles (Sale Sharks) – Scrumhalf
Sam Hill** (Exeter Chiefs) – Centre
Will Hooley (Northampton Saints) – Fly Half
Ben Howard (Worcester Warriors) – Centre/Wing
Mark Jennings (Sale Sharks) – Centre
Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs) – Fullback/Centre
Henry Purdy (Leicester Tigers) – Wing/Centre
Henry Slade** (Exeter Chiefs) – Fly Half
Harry Sloan (Harlequins) – Centre
Tom Stephenson* (Northampton Saints) – Centre
Anthony Watson** (London Irish) – Fullback/Wing

NB: Richard Lane (Bath) and Josh Watkins* (Worcester Warriors) were part of the original squad, but later replaced by Henry Purdy and Harry Sloan.

* Capped by England at Under 18 level last season
** Capped by England at Under 20 level last season

 

[Iluvmyfooty]

First camp for OZ u20's training squads commences 18 Feb for four days. Any names?

Also, first 2 rounds of the 6 Nations u 20's has now been completed. Ireland, who are in our group in France have lost to Wales by 2 points and then beat England by a point. Would love to hear how they look from anyone who has seen them

 

[JSRF10]

First camp for OZ u20's training squads commences 18 Feb for four days. Any names?

Also, first 2 rounds of the 6 Nations u 20's has now been completed. Ireland, who are in our group in France have lost to Wales by 2 points and then beat England by a point. Would love to hear how they look from anyone who has seen them

Haven't seen them but the scrum is really weak this year by all accounts it got beasted by both the Orcs and Wales. Also a couple of Rabo and Heineken regulars, Robbie Henshaw for one, didn't play the Wales game.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Might have missed it but who will be the coach of our U20's tilt this year.

Clearly it will not be David of the Faecal Touch backing up from 2012.

 

[qwerty51]

still unknown publicly

 

[Hugh Jarse]

THe NSW chapter of the U20 squad trains several times per week at Moore Park near the SFS/SCG Bus Loop.

I think a combination of HPU coaches, and various Waratah and Wallaby consultant coach ing advisors run those sessions.

 

[Sully]

I think if we steal from the NZ model we'll do alright.

Cycle up and coming coaches through the under 20 squad on a 3 year basis.
1st year backs coach
2nd year forwards coach
3rd year head coach.

Have a director of coaching with lots of knowledge to hold things together. A Bob Dwyer type comes to mind.

 

[Iluvmyfooty]

Might have missed it but who will be the coach of our U20's tilt this year.

Clearly it will not be David of the Faecal Touch backing up from 2012.

I believe it is anthony Eddy who was Nucifora's assistant last year

 

[qwerty51]

Greg Clark ‏@greg_clarkie
Congrats Adrian Thompson who has been appointed Aust U 20 Coach taking overt from David Nucifora. Sean Hedger is assistant Coach

 

[Caputo]

There has been a list of 50 names for the first camp next week in Canberra, obviously minus the 3 Reds.

I am unaware of some of the names and request help in identifying their positions and whether they are training fodder:

Dean Cooper - Gold Coast Breakers
Carl Elliot - Western Lions
Lalakai Foketi - Manly
Faeo Fotuaika - Sunnybank
Sam Greene - Wests
Albert Hemopo - Southern Districts
Jack Johnson - Randwick
Samu Kerevi - GPS
Adam Korcyk - UQ
Conor Malan - Gold Coast Breakers
Simon Mikeale - Easts
Andy Muirhead - Souths Brisbane
Harry Parker - UQ
Joel Penders - Canberra Royals
Matt Philip - Sydney Uni
GP Pretorious - Queanbeyan Whites
Angus Pulver - Sydney Uni
TJ Sikisini - Gold Coast Breakers
Scott Tolmie - Associates
Tevita Vea - Randwick
Terrin Walls - UQ
Michael Wells - North

 

[TOCC]

Greg Clark ‏@greg_clarkie
Congrats Adrian Thompson who has been appointed Aust U 20 Coach taking overt from David Nucifora. Sean Hedger is assistant Coach

From what I can gather.... He was assistant coach at the Reds around 10 years ago, then coach of Aus A in 2002-2003 before moving to Japan(2005-2011), he rejoined the ARU HPU in 2012 and has been involved in a coaching role with the ARU National Academy ever since..

 

[Bowside]

There has been a list of 50 names for the first camp next week in Canberra, obviously minus the 3 Reds.

I am unaware of some of the names and request help in identifying their positions and whether they are training fodder:

Dean Cooper - Gold Coast Breakers
Carl Elliot - Western Lions
Lalakai Foketi - Manly
Faeo Fotuaika - Sunnybank
Sam Greene - Wests
Albert Hemopo - Southern Districts
Jack Johnson - Randwick
Samu Kerevi - GPS
Adam Korcyk - UQ
Conor Malan - Gold Coast Breakers
Simon Mikeale - Easts
Andy Muirhead - Souths Brisbane
Harry Parker - UQ
Joel Penders - Canberra Royals
Matt Philip - Sydney Uni
GP Pretorious - Queanbeyan Whites
Angus Pulver - Sydney Uni
TJ Sikisini - Gold Coast Breakers
Scott Tolmie - Associates
Tevita Vea - Randwick
Terrin Walls - UQ
Michael Wells - North

Most of the names listed are bolters who are a very outside chance of making the squad. Of the QLD based players listed last year most played Premier Colts and benched the odd game for Premier Grade.

Sam Greene was at school last year and guided Grammar to their first premiership in living memory. I expect he might get thrown in the deep end and go straight to premier grade since he is going to wests and they don't have an established flyhalf.

I've never heard of TJ Sikisini although he could be the bloke bought over from the titans U20's. I might be thinking of someone else though.

Do you have a full list?

 

[Caputo]

Australian Under 20 Coaches named ahead of first camp
2/15/2013
By ARU Media Unit

​

Australian Rugby Union has announced Adrian Thompson (head coach) and Sean Hedger (assistant coach) as the Australian Under-20 coaches for the 2013 IRB Junior World Championship being held in France in June.

Thompson, the current forwards coach at the ARU National Academy in Brisbane, has more than 10 years coaching experience, which includes stints with premier-grade sides Easts and Brothers, as well as with the Queensland Reds and Australia A.

Hedger, who is currently at the helm of the ARU National Academy in Sydney, has nearly 10 years’ experience, most recently as head coach of Japanese club Kyuden Voltex in 2011-12.

The coaches were named ahead of the first Australian Under-20 selection camp being held at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra from Monday 18 to Thursday 21 February, with Thompson keen to get preparations underway for June.

“We’ll be bringing a group of 50 players into this camp and many of them will attend all our camps,” Thompson said.

“These are great opportunities to see a lot of these guys and get a good idea of where their skills are at.”

This is the first of three selection camps which will be held over the coming months and will have a focus on core skills and fitness testing.

The Australian age-grade program has long been a developmental stepping stone for future Wallabies, with the likes of Will Genia, David Pocock, Rob Simmons, James Slipper, Rob Horne and Kurtley Beale all making their way through the program early in their careers.

“Obviously you want to be successful at the tournament, but long-term the Australian Under-20 program is all about developing depth and helping build these players into professional footballers,” Thompson said.

Next week’s camp features six members of the 2012 Australian Under-20 squad, with Alan Ala'alatoa, Oliver Hoskins, Silatolu Latu, Jock Merriman, Maile Nguamo and Sam Reiser all invited to attend.

It also features seven members of the Australian Schools squad which toured Fiji and New Zealand last year, culminating in a 16-14 win over New Zealand Schools in Auckland.

Australian Schools 2012 players Jack Dempsey, Adam Korcyk, Jake McIntyre, Jonah Placid, Angus Pulver, Andrew Robinson and Tom Staniforth will be in attendance next week.

The camp will feature 50 under-20 players vying for a spot in the final 28-player squad bound for France later this year.

The IRB Junior World Championship runs 5-23 June in France, where Australia will face New Zealand, Fiji and Ireland in pool play.

ARU National Academy side to face Queensland Reds

Nub
Hometown
1Allan Ala'alatoa
West Harbour
Jamberoo
2
Paul Asquith
Southern Districts
Menangle
3
Mark Baldwin
Randwick
Pacific Pines
4
Dean Cooper
Gold Coast Breakers
Strathfield
5
Jack Debreczeni
West Harbour
West Pymble
6
Jack Dempsey
Gordon
Dee Why
7
Rhys Dombkins
Manly
Taralga
8
Carl Elliot
Western Lions
Sorrento-Bundall
9
Sam Fattal
West Harbour
Manly
10
Lalakai Foketi
Manly
Woodridge
11
Faeo Fotuaika
Sunnybank Dragons
Carlingford
12
Michael Freeman
Norths
Clayfield
13
Sam Greene
Wests
Gymea
14
Albert Hemopo
Southern Districts
Vaucluse
15
David Horwitz
Randwick
Subiaco
16
Oli Hoskins
Manly (Perth)
Mosman
17
Chris Ingate
Sydney University
Bronte
18
Jack Johnson
Randwick
Northgate
19
Samu Kerevi
Gps
Boondall
20
Phil Kite
Gps
Yeronga
21
Adam Korcyk
University Of Qld
Botany
22
Silatolu Latu
Sydney University
Gold Coast
23
Connor Malan
Gold Coast Breakers
Alstonville
24
Jake McIntyre

Fig Tree Pocket
25
Ben Meehan
Sunnybank
Ipswich
26
Simon Mikaele
Easts
Boorowa
27
Jock Merriman
Sydney University
Boondall
28
Jake Milne
Gps
Buderim
29
Connor Mitchell
University Of Qld
Daisy Hill
30
Andy Muirhead
Souths (Brisbane)
Daisy Hill
31
Maile Ngaumo
Sunny Bank
Forestville
32
Alex Northam
Manly
Paddington
33
Harry Parker
University Of Qld
Fisher
34
Joel Penders
Canberra Royals
Avalon
35
Matt Philip
Sydney University
Mt Gravatt
36
Jonah Placid
Easts
Queanbeyan
37
GP Pretorius
Queanbeyan Whites
Mosman
38
Angus Pulver
Sydney University
Albion
39
Andrew Ready
Easts Tigers
Bardon
40
Sam Reiser
University Of Qld
Conder
41
Andrew Robinson
Tuggeranong Vikings
Woodridge
42
TJ Sikisini
Gold Coast Breakers
Lindcombe
43
Pat Sio
Northern Suburbs
Kambah
44
Tom Staniforth

Acacia Ridge
45
Henry Taefu
Sunnybank
Mount Claremont
46
Scott Tolmie
Associates
Stanmore
47
Tevita Vea
Randwick
Murrumba Downs
48
Terrin Walls
University Of Qld
Turramurra
49
Michael Wells
Norths
Gymea
50
Waldo Wessels
Southern Districts
Gymea

 

[Caputo]

Notes on the squad absent from the list Pettowa Paraka, the Reds trio including probable captain Browning, Seuteni and Sautia.

The impact of the 7's where 5 players from last year's team are unavailable with another 4 players eligible but in the 7's squad.

 

[GaffaCHinO]

news in the west is that 5 WA players have been invited to the second U20's camp for a spot in the squad to go to France

Richard Cooper, Corey Thomas, Brad Lacey, Luke Burton and Ollie Hoskins

Good job boys