For the first time in four years, one of the most important pathway tournaments in rugby returns to competition next month.
The World Rugby Under-20 Championship kicks off on June 24 in South Africa, where the Junior Wallabies will be hoping to do something they’ve never done before: win the tournament.
At the most recent instalment, in 2019, Australia finished runners-up, going down 24-23 to France.
The Junior Wallabies were pipped by France in the last world championship final, which was held in Argentina in 2019.
But more important than the result was the talent that came out of that Australian side.
At least 18 of the 28 players named for that tournament in Argentina have since gone on to play Super Rugby, and eight have made their international debuts for the Wallabies.
Now household names such as Noah Lolesio, Harry Wilson, Nick Frost, Lachlan Lonergan, Angus Bell and Mark Nawaqanitawase all featured in the squad, while the team was captained by Queensland Reds star Fraser McReight.
Among this year’s squad, which is gathering on the Gold Coast for a week-long camp to prepare for a two-match series against New Zealand next week, some have already played Super Rugby.
The likes of Waratah Teddy Wilson, ACT Brumbies’ Klayton Thorn and Queensland’s Taj Annan have tasted plenty of top flight footy this season, and while Super Rugby players Max Jorgensen and Tom Lynagh won’t join the team for this camp or the New Zealand games, both are likely to be in the squad bound for Cape Town next month.
The head coach, Nathan Grey, is buoyant about the players in his squad with top-grade experience.
“The more guys we have (playing Super Rugby), the better,” Grey told this masthead.
Coach Nathan Grey is liking what he has seen at Junior Wallabies training so far.Credit: AAP
“They’re playing against some of the best players in the world and learning to perform under pressure.
“They build resilience and toughness, and it helps to grow their confidence when they come back to this [age group] environment.
“Now they come back and they have a great opportunity to test themselves against some of the best players in the world but at a similar age to themselves.”
Grey described the tournament as “critical” to the development of young talent in Australia, and has been impressed with what he has seen in the first days in camp this week.
“They’ve been buried in their Super Rugby or club teams the past few months but they’ve come here and gelled really well.
“The first field session was really good – some really good work already.”
Just named captain of the squad is Wilson, whose surname should be familiar to rugby fans, particularly Queensland ones, as young scrumhalf Teddy is the son of Reds and Wallabies legend David Wilson.
New Junior Wallabies captain Teddy Wilson and his father, former Wallabies and Reds flanker David Wilson.
Credit: AAP
While his dad was a tough-as-nails flanker, there are still plenty of similarities between father and son, according to Grey, who played with and against David.
“(Teddy) comes from great stock,” says Grey.
“He’s a hard worker and rips in for his team; he’s an honest player.
“If he continues to bring that to the table he’ll be a very valuable player for us.”
Apart from their playing position, the only difference (and it’s a critical one for diehard Reds fans) is Teddy is a born-and-raised New South Welshman.
Oh well, nobody’s perfect.
But as one of the more senior players in the squad, Wilson will be crucial to Australia’s chances in South Africa, this being his third year in the Under-20’s program.
“He’s had a hard graft at the Waratahs, sitting behind (captain) Jake Gordon, he’s played limited minutes.
“But we’ll be leaning on his experience with this team.”
And Australia will need every leg-up they can get.
In their pool they will face Fiji, Ireland and England.
The Irish are the two-time defending Under-20’s Six Nations Champions, going through undefeated in this year’s tournament.
And England have won the tournament three times and finished runner-up six times since it began in 2008.
