2024 Fortescue Academy & RWA Academy Squad

[Burgs]

Checked out the Academy page earlier and was showing an error.
Went back just now and it seems there are more listed now with 25, pretty sure commented recently there wasn't a full selection to play a match.
Any feedback from Clubland on these young fellas?

2024 Fortescue Academy

AJ Preketes
Albert Alcock
Angus Websdale
Billy Browne
Billy Turnbull
Boston Fakafanua
Caleb Karangaroa
Cristiano Tizzano
Dane Sawers
Doug Philipson
Finn Prass
HD Stemmet
Henry James
Jhy Legg
Justin Landman
Kauri Tipene-Grace
Lipina Ata
Manaia TeTana
Max Sawers
Mitch Watts
Oakley Pearce
Ollie McGinnity
Ronan Leahy
Ryan McGloin
Tiam Toufan


Listing the RWA Academy as well for posterity, might have this one I commented not a full 23.

2024 RWA Academy Squad

Tom Crofts (Scrum Half)
Wanneroo Rugby Club

Tama Tunui (Scrum Half)
Wanneroo Rugby Club

Felix Cooper (Backrower)
Trinity College | Wests Scarborough RUC

Deacan Seve (Backrower)
Wests Scarborough RUC

Cassius Dougal (Backrower)
Aranmore Catholic College | Mandurah Pirates RUFC

Gideon Weleilakeba (Backrower)
Southern Lions RUFC

Brennan Leef (Hooker)
Southern Lions RUFC

Luke Megson (Hooker)
Scotch College

Zavier Hawira (Tighthead Prop)
Palmyra RUC

Zane Wesley (Tighthead Prop)
Wanneroo Rugby Club

Brodie Mainwaring (Flyhalf)
Wanneroo Rugby Club

Peni Naqua (Centre)
Southern Lions RUFC

Chase Bunce (Centre)
Cottesloe RUFC

[Kernow]

Checked out the Academy page earlier and was showing an error.
Went back just now and it seems there are more listed now with 25, pretty sure commented recently there wasn't a full selection to play a match.
Any feedback from Clubland on these young fellas?

Cottesloe RUFC

I know JT was talking about being able to build the academy into a position where they had players ready to step into the main squad and to do that effectively, I would think the academy needs to be running closer to 45. Hopefully, they will start adding more to the player profiles as momentum builds so we can see who is in the wings.

From a recruitment perspective, I would have thought that with Greg Holmes, Jeremy Thrush, and Jonno Lance on the coaching team, there'd be an increasing number of kids keen to get a spot in the academy.

[Burgs]

Exciting local pair Te Tana and Naqau commit to Force Academy

Thu, May 30, 2024, 7:30 AM
Ben Somerford

The Western Force have secured talented local teenage duo Manaia Te Tana and Penijameni Naqau for another year within the Club’s Fortescue Academy.

The pair have both represented Australia at under-age level following on from strong displays for the Force at last year’s Men’s Under-19 and Under-16 Super Rugby Championship respectively.

Promising Wanneroo back-rower Te Tana, 18, was part of the Academy last year and played three games, scoring one try, for the Force in the Men’s Under-19 Super Rugby Championship.

Te Tana was named in a preliminary squad for Australia’s Under-18 squad to tour New Zealand in late September.

Southern Lions inside-centre Naqau was a standout for the Force in last year’s Under-16 Super Rugby Championship with two tries in four games.

Naqau’s displays led to selection in Australia’s Under-16’s squad late last year, with the side taking on the Pacific All Stars in Canberra in December.

Fortescue Academy head coach Jeremy Thrush was delighted to see more WA talent commit to the Club.

“It’s great that there’s some really good talent coming through the WA systems and committing to our program as they can see the pathway to Super Rugby through our Club,” Thrush said.

Te Tana follows the path of Grason Makara, Ollie Callan, Luke Callan and Caleb Karangaroa to go from Wanneroo into the Force set-up.

“Manaia is a young kid that has been in and around RugbyWA Academies and teams,” Thrush said.

“He was in the Force Under-19s last year and played really, really well. It’s awesome to see him re-sign with the Force.”

Safety Bay Senior High School student Naqau was twice named in the U16s Super Rugby Team of the Week, in Rounds 1 and 4, and will now get his first taste of the Fortescue Academy.

“Peni has been in the RugbyWA Academy and was part of the Force Under-16s last year, where he played really well,” Thrush said.

“In the time he’s spent with our Force Academy we’ve really enjoyed what he’s been doing. We can see he has a lot of potential in his game and his abilities.”

[Kernow]

Really positive to see announcements like this

[Burgs]

Really positive to see announcements like this

Can't help but think not a coincidence the day released either...

[Kernow]

Can't help but think not a coincidence the day released either...

Whatever do you mean