LOCAL TALENT SET FOR PERTH SPIRIT CALL UP

LOCAL TALENT SET FOR PERTH SPIRIT CALL UP



By Fraser Smith on Mon 25th July 16 in NRC, Pindan Premier Grade
http://www.rugbywa.com.au/sites/defa...?itok=vGV89NwI


Perth Spirit Head Coach Dwayne Nestor has identified 27 talented players from the Pindan Premier Grade for a potential call up to the Perth Spirit for the 2016 Buildcorp National Rugby Championship (NRC).
The players hailing from nine different local clubs will take part in some preparation work over the next two weeks before the final squad is named for third installment of the championship.
Ladder leading Wests Scarborough have the strongest presence in the preliminary training squad with six players selected including the Pindan Premier Grade’s leading points scorer, AJ Alatimu.
2015 Perth Spirit representatives Michael Ruru (Nedlands) and Auega Seumanutafa (Kalamunda) are both in the mix to pull on the black and gold jersey again after standout seasons for their clubs.
The 27-man group features eight members of the Future Force Foundation including Australian Under 20’s representative Shambeckler Vui (UWA) and West Scarborough young guns Angus Taylor and Riley Winter.
Nine members of the Western Force 10s team that Nestor coached to the World Club 10s Mauritius Championship have also been identified for a potential call up including dynamic backs Jarome Leonard-Tekanawa (Wests Scarborough) and Eric Vasukicakau (Cottesloe).
Nestor says all 27 players have shown strong form in the Pindan Premier Grade this season and the coaching staff will use the next two weeks to identify which players they believe are ready to step up to the next level.
“These guys that we’ve identified have shown some really good form for their club sides,” he said. “We’ve been watching for the whole season and taken that all into account, so even though some players have maybe been injured or their team hasn’t been winning a lot we have seen what they are capable off.”
“From now we will bring these guys in for medicals starting this week to make sure they are physically up to playing NRC. Then over the next two weeks we will start to get a little bit of learning into the players and get to know everyone and from there we will make the selection of a final squad.”
“Potentially we could have as many as 20 of these guys in the final squad so it’s an awesome opportunity for them.”
After five players from last year’s Perth Spirit squad went on to make their Super Rugby debut for the Western Force in 2016 Nestor says the NRC provides a massive opportunity for talented club players.
“With the amount of Perth Spirit guys that moved up to play for the Force this season we saw that the pathway from NRC to Super Rugby is feasible. These guys are just playing club rugby at the moment but as we saw with Anaru Rangi that they could be playing Super Rugby within 12 months.”
The Perth Spirit will also look to develop local coaches with Wests Scarborough and Nedlands Head Coaches Dwayne Grace and Luke Doherty to work with the side under the direction of Nestor and assistant coaches Kevin Foote and Elwee Prinsloo.

NAME	SURNAME	CLUB	POSITION
AJ	Alatimu	Wests Scarborough	Flyhalf
Lukas	Birch	Joondalup	Flanker
Russell	Burges	Kalamunda	Flanker
Brad	Campbell	Wanneroo	Lock
Manihera	Eden	Palmyra	Fullback
Mees	Erasmus	Palmyra	Prop
Al	Haining	Cottesloe	Centre
Onehunga	Havilli	Palmyra	No 8
Beau	King	Kalamunda	Prop
Grayson	Knapp	Nedlands	Lock
Jarome	Leonard-Tekanawa	Wests Scarborough	Fullback
Louie	Toete	Wests Scarborough	Centre
Ammon	Matuauto	Nedlands	Centre
Hadleigh	May	Cottesloe	Flanker
Nick	Mclennan	Wests Scarborough	Prop
Liaone	Mulikihaamea	Joondalup	Prop
Dylan	Pieterse	Cottesloe	Flanker
Michael	Ruru	Nedlands	Scrumhalf
Auega	Seumanutafa	Kalamunda	No 8
Angus	Taylor	Wests Scarborough	Scrumhalf
Clay	Uyen	UWA	Fullback
Eric	Vasukicakau	Cottesloe	Centre
James	Verity-Amm	Nedlands	Fullback
Shambeckler	Vui	UWA	Prop
Naude	Wessels	Associates	Flyhalf
James	Wepener	Joondalup	Wing
Riley	Winter	Wests Scarborough	Lock

Can't please everyone, but it looks good to me.

Beau King made the list. Strongest scrummager in Premier Grade. Would be handy at the next level if they can see past which club he plays for and are willing to get the training into him.

It seems that the Perth Spirit are a couple of weeks behind Melbourne and Canberra. Canberra having there local players train two times a week at the Brumbies from Jun-Aug when the professionals are parachuted in.

Melbourne having three week selection trials starting last week.

Word on the street, NRC head coach is michael rurus bitch from Mauritius!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by whodunnit

Word on the street, NRC head coach is michael rurus bitch from Mauritius!

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Welcome along. Nestor was confirmed as coach weeks ago. Read the 1st line of the article posted by TG.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by whodunnit

Word on the street, NRC head coach is michael rurus bitch from Mauritius!

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I know, I just cannot believe that Tom Fearn didn't get a look in!!

Gracie and Doherty must be so excited to get the opportunity to work under the direction of Nestor,Foote and Prinsloo.

Russell Burges Kalamunda Flanker
Manihera Eden Palmyra Fullback
Beau King Kalamunda Prop
Grayson Knapp Nedlands Lock
Louie Toete Wests Scarborough Centre
Hadleigh May Cottesloe Flanker
Nick Mclennan Wests Scarborough Prop
Liaone Mulikihaamea Joondalup Prop
Clay Uyen UWA Fullback
Eric Vasukicakau Cottesloe Centre
James Wepener Joondalup Wing

Can some of the club land please provide more information on these players I am not familiar with. Age background whether they could step straight up.