Photo: Sportography

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Australia’s next generation of rugby stars can prepare in earnest for next month’s Oceania U20s Championship, after exciting clashes against Junior Japan, Fiji U20s and New Zealand U20s were confirmed.

The Championship will run from Saturday 26th April – Saturday May 4th at Bond University on the Gold Coast, with the Junior Wallabies set to take on Japan in the opener, before clashes with Fiji and defending champions New Zealand to follow.

“We’re excited to be involved in the Oceania tournament again this year. It’s great to get into game mode, and we will need to be ready for the matches,” said head coach Jason Gilmore.

“We have just come off a productive week-long training camp at the AIS, and the playing group is progressing well. The squad will now go back to their clubs and academies, gaining valuable game time before we reconvene on the Gold Coast in April.”

With the annual World Rugby U20s Championship taking place in Argentina in June, this tournament is a valuable opportunity for teams in the region to prepare, compete, and nail down their final squads ahead of the big dance.

“The Oceania Rugby U20s Championship serves to provide our premier U20s teams in the region the best preparation possible ahead of the World Rugby U20s Championship each year,” affirmed Oceania Rugby’s Competitions Manager Wayne Schuster.

“It essentially allows our teams an opportunity to fine tune their preparations and combinations in a robust and high-level competition environment, similar to what they will encounter in pool play at the World U20s Championship in Argentina.”

The Junior Wallabies face a tough road to the finals when they get to Argentina, having been placed in Pool B alongside fast-improving Italy, Ireland, and last year’s runners-up, England.

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OCEANIA U20s CHAMPIONSHIP
Bond University, Gold Coast

Round 1: Friday, April 26th

New Zealand v Fiji, 5.00pm
Australia v Japan, 7.00pm

Round 2: Tuesday, April 30th

New Zealand v Japan, 3.00pm
Australia v Fiji, 5.00pm

Round 3: Saturday, May 4th

Japan v Fiji, 5.00pm
Australia v New Zealand, 7.00pm

*All times AEST

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Junior Wallabies U20s Training Squad:
Bo Abra, NSW; Oliver Barden, Victoria; Angus Bell, NSW; Darcy Breen, NSW; Oliver Callan, Western Australia; Will Chaffey, Queensland; Liam Cornish, NSW; Joe Cotton, Queensland; Will Deardon, Queensland; Ethan Dobbins, Queensland; Ben Donaldson, NSW; Max Douglas, NSW; Max Dowd, Queensland; Will Goddard, ACT; Esei Ha’angana, Victoria; Brooklyn Hardaker, NSW; Jack Hardy, Queensland; Will Harris, NSW; Will Harrison, NSW; Isaac Henry, Queensland; Trevor Hosea, Victoria; Kristian Jensen, NSW; Nathan Lawson, NSW; Noah Lolesio, ACT; Lachlan Lonergan, ACT; Brody Macaskill, Western Australia; Michael McDonald, Western Australia; Fraser McReight, Queensland; Josh Nasser, Queensland; Mark Nawaqanitawase, NSW; Kye Oates, Queensland; Lachlan Osborne, ACT; Ben Paxton-Hall, Queensland; Byron Ralston, Queensland; Triston Reilly, AU7s; Henry Robertson, NSW; Egan Siggs, Queensland; Seamus Smith, ACT; Tristan Stanghon, Queensland; Pat Tafa, NSW; Sione Tui, Victoria; Liam Usher, Queensland; Rhys Van Nek, Queensland; Jack Walsh, NSW; Joey Walton, NSW; Harry Wilson, Queensland; Michael Wood, Queensland; Finn Wright, NSW