Tomorrows Wallabies to play in Tri-Series

[Burgs]

Tomorrows Wallabies to play in Tri-Series

May 16, 2007 - 12:02pm
Story by: ARU

The Suncorp Australian Schoolboys rugby team will play a Tri Series competition against Samoa Under 18s and New Zealand Schools in September and October this year.

The Australian Schools program has launched the careers of many current Wallabies and Super 14 stars including Phil Waugh, George Smith, Rocky Elsom, Drew Mitchell, Kurtley Beale and Quade Cooper.

With 13 players from last year’s Australian Schoolboys team selected for the Under 19 world championships in Belfast last month, the program is an important step on the elite player development pathway and future representative honours.

Australia will play Samoa in Canberra on 25 September before facing New Zealand at Sydney’s St Joseph’s College on 9 October as part of the TNT Test Series.

The last trans-Tasman clash saw the Australians suffer an 18-8 defeat in a hard-fought contest in Auckland.

Australian coach Pat Langtry said the team will be eager to make full use of their home advantage this time around.

“Playing New Zealand anywhere is tough, but having the test in Sydney will help us prepare for the game without the issue of travel,” he said.

“Samoa are always a very physical and skillful side at any level and will definitely be a challenge for both New Zealand and Australia in the Tri Series.”

The Australian Rugby Union’s High Performance Unit’s assistance is vital for the Australian Schoolboys program Coach Langtry said.

“We enjoy a close association with the ARU and their coaching and sports science knowledge has been a great benefit to our players”.

“To see many of the boys move on to play a higher level is proof that the system is working.”

Before the Tri Series, Australia will play England Schools at Ballymore on 19 August, with the English out to avenge their 24-12 defeat on home soil in 2005.

Suncorp Australian Schoolboys international fixtures 2007:

Australia A v England:

Wed 15 Aug, The Southport School, Gold Coast

Australia v England:

Sun 19 Aug, Ballymore, Brisbane

Australia A v Samoa:

Sat 22 Sep, Parramatta, Sydney

Australia v Samoa:

Tue 25 Sep, Canberra

Samoa v New Zealand:

Tue 2 Oct, Gosford, NSW

Australia A v New Zealand:

Fri 5 Oct, Warringah, Sydney

Australia v New Zealand:

Tue 9 Oct, St Joseph’s College, Sydney

[Skiza]

The schoolboys team has a corporate sponsor? How lucky are they!!