Ten of Queensland rugby’s brightest prospects have been rewarded with selection in the Australia Under-18s squad to face New Zealand Schools.
In addition, a further nine Queensland talents have earned selection in the Australian Schoolboys squad to play against Fiji Schoolboys.
A series of matches in Canberra starting later this month will bring together this blossoming generation of players.
Australian U18s coach Dale Roberson is in the fortunate position of being able to harness some of the standouts who featured in the side last year.
Prop Kingsley Uys and pacy winger Nick Conway both scored tries in Hamilton last October when the Aussie U18s upset NZ Schools 38-31 for the first time since 2019.
Equally, lock Will Ross dominated up front in that international.
Joining that trio in this year’s Australian U18s are flyhalf Finn Mackay, prop Jonah Rangiwai, hooker Isaac Rauluni, prop Levi Slater, centre Taione Taka, utility back Treyvon Pritchard, and prop Tito Hamala.
Unfortunately, a shoulder injury sustained during the GPS First XV competition ruled out lock Bennett Armistead.
“It’s great to see the progress of boys who have been in the Queensland pathway system since the Emerging Reds Cup in U16s,” said Paul Carozza, the Queensland Reds Head of Talent Management.
“It also shows that the team is picked on form when a player like prop Tito Hamala has been selected through his strong performances for Nudgee College after not being in the Reds U18s earlier this year..”
Hamala, a strong scrummager and ball-carrier, has earned selection alongside Isaac Rauluni, his hooker at Nudgee College.
There are strong signs of the consistency in the pathway with seven of the 10 players signed this year to development deals to continue their rise with the Queensland Reds.
They are Uys, Conway, Ross, Taka, Pritchard, Slater and Mackay.
The Australia U18s will face the Australian Schoolboys at Viking Park on Thursday, September 15, ahead of two matches against New Zealand Secondary Schools.
"We have selected a strong 30-man squad. We have several returning players from the 2024 team who will provide valuable leadership,” coach Roberson said.
“It was a tough process to narrow it down to 30 as there have been many strong performances through the schools and club competitions and the Academy matches earlier in the year.
"The states have done a tremendous job preparing their teams and players for their respective championship games throughout the year and it has certainly provided a great platform to select from. It was pleasing to see strong performances from the Western Australia, Victorian and ACT teams at the national school championships
“Many of their players put their hand up for selection in both the Australia U18 and Australian Schoolboys teams and several U17 aged players are now on the watchlist for 2026.
"The coaching team are confident that the squad selected will prepare well and we are excited to take on our traditional rivals from New Zealand. We are under no illusions of what will be required to beat them but we are sure this Australia U18 squad is ready for the challenge."
The Australian Schoolboys selections recognise some outstanding performers.
Fullback Angus Tagicakibau has won a legion of supporters for his striking performances for Brisbane State High in this year's GPS First XV competition.
The net has been cast to regional strongholds with front-rower Adrian De Klerk and playmaker Rohan Nicol earning recognition from Sunshine Coast Grammar. Kobi Nouanrasy has also earned his place from King's Christian College on the Gold Coast while Gavin Wilson-Tyres has won selection from Toowoomba's Downlands College.
Other Queenslanders selected are Tannar Baker, Lane Edmonds, Cyrus Suniula and Elijah Breen.
AUSTRALIA U18 AND AUSTRALIAN SCHOOLBOYS FIXTURES
Australia U18 v Australian Schoolboys
12pm AEST Thursday September 25
Viking Park, Canberra
Australian Schoolboys v Fiji Schoolboys
12pm AEST Monday September 29
Viking Park, Canberra
Australia U18 v New Zealand Secondary Schools
2pm AEST Monday September 29
Viking Park, Canberra
Australian Schoolboys v Fiji Schoolboys
12pm AEST Saturday October 4
Viking Park, Canberra
Australia U18 v New Zealand Secondary Schools
2pm AEST Saturday October 4
Viking Park, Canberra
The matches will be broadcast live on the rugby.com.au YouTube channel.
Angus Grover - St Ignatius College, Riverview
Brody Folkes - St Iganatius College, Riverview
Chayse Geros - St Augustine's College
Cyrus Bloomfield - Oakhill College
Dylan Simmons - Newington College
Ed Kasprowicz - Sydney University
Finn Mackay - Souths Rugby Club, Brisbane
Glassie Glassie - Patrician Brothers College, Fairfield
Hasani Bloomfield - The King's School
Hayden Lavercombe - The King's School
Heinz Lemoto - The Scots College
Isaac Fonua - The King's School
Isaac Rauluni - Nudgee College
Jarryd King - Newington College
Jarvis Orr - Knox Grammar
Jonah Rangiwai - Bond University
Jonty Fowler - Easts Rugby Club, Sydney
Justice Taumoepeau - St Joseph's College
Kingsley Uys - The Southport School
Levi Slater - Nudgee College
Nicholas Conway - Wests Rugby Club, Brisbane
Oliver Smith - The King's School
Rory O'Connor - St Joseph's College
Tahj Smith - Barker College
Taione Taka - Brisbane Boys' College
Talen Risati - The King's School
Tito Hamala - Nudgee College
TJ Talaileva - Barker College
Treyvon Pritchard - Anglican Church Grammar School
Will Ross - Padua College
Unavailable for selection due to injury:
Bennett Armistead - Nudgee College
Isaiah Sheck - Newington College
Adrian De Klerk - Sunshine Coast Grammar School
Angus Tagicakibau - Brisbane State High School
Brock Prideaux - Trinity Grammar School
Cameron Kirsten - Marist College Canberra
Cyrus Suniula - Brisbane State High School
Daniel Muir - Newington College
Denzel Veikune - Daramalan College
Elijah Breen - Brisbane Grammar School
Gavin Wilson-Tyres - Downlands College
George Tancred - St Ignatius College
James Finegan - Waverley College
Jeremy Rath - Barker College
Jerome Pongi - St Brigid's Catholic College, Lake Munmorah
Josh Barr - Waverley College
Keegan Daly - Barker College
Kobi Nouanrasy - King's Christian College
Lane Edmonds - Ipswich Grammar School
Noah Rylands - St Augustine's College
Oscar Cleary - Kinross Wolaroi School
Rohan Nichol - Sunshine Coast Grammar School
Tannar Baker - Ipswich Grammar School
Thomas Haslam - Knox Grammar
Will Trostel - Trinity Grammar
