Australia U20 head coach Chris Whitaker has revealed a 30-man squad for their Junior World Championship campaign in Georgia, with Force flyer Wallace Charlie named.
The squad will assemble in Sydney next Wednesday before flying out to Kutaisi, Georgia where they will play all of their three Pool D group games.
The squad consists of 27 players in Super Rugby programs, two Australian Sevens members and two overseas players.
Queensland Reds flanker Tom Robinson will retain the captaincy from the Rugby Championship.
The Australia U20s will start the World Championship against Spain in the early hours of Sunday morning on the 28th of June before taking on Fiji and then closing out the group against U20 Six Nations winners, France.
The four pool winners will progress to the semi-finals, while second-placed teams will compete for fifth to eight places. Third and fourth-placed teams will contest rankings from ninth to 12th and 13th to 16th respectively, with seeding based on pool-stage competition points.
The Junior World Championship 2026 will also mark a significant step forward in player welfare, becoming the first international competition to feature a trial of lowering the tackle height.
The initiative, designed to enhance safety and reduce head contact, builds on successful trials at community and domestic levels.
Australia U20 Head Coach Chris Whitaker said: "We're pretty excited, we've got a talented group and feel like we are ready to embrace the challenge of competing on this world stage.
"We have learnt a lot this year at both the Coffs Coast Festival of Rugby and The Rugby Championship, and we'll take those learnings into Georgia with us.
"We have got a tricky pool with Spain, Fiji and the Six Nations champions, France, but we will go into the games with confidence and give it our all."
Australia U20 Squad:
ACT Brumbies
Ewald Kruger - Hooker
Eli Langi - Backrow
Chayse Geros - Scrumhalf/Fullback
NSW Waratahs
Edwin Langi – Prop
Matthew Sauao – Prop
Isaac Fonua - Backrow/Lock
Toby Brial - Backrow/Lock
Luca Cleverley – Backrow
Marshall Le Maitre – Backrow
TJ Talaileva – Backrow
Angus Grover – Scrumhalf
Sam Blank – Scrumhalf
Jonty Fowler – Flyhalf
Zach Fittler – Centre
Leo Jaques - Centre/Wing
Charlie Bird - Centre/Fullback
Tom Farr-Jones - Wing
Queensland Reds
Jacob Job – Prop
Charles Hollyman – Hooker
John Grenfell – Hooker
Kenneth Harris – Lock
William Ross – Lock
Tom Robinson (c) – Backrow
Finn Mackay – Flyhalf
Taione Taka - Centre/Wing
Treyvon Pritchard - Centre/Fullback
Australian Sevens
Cooper Watters – Wing
Wallace Charlie (Western Force) - Wing/Fullback
Overseas
Kingbenjamin Swerling-Finaipepe (Castres) – Prop
Lehopoame Leota (Racing 92) - Prop
Unavailable for Selection
Bennett Armistead (Reds, injury)
Kingsley Uys - (Reds, injury)
Nicholas Conway (Reds, injury)
Justice Taumoepeau (Waratahs, injury)
Nick Hill - (Waratahs, injury)
Australia U20 Junior World Championship Match Schedule: All 3 pool matches played at AIA Arena, Kutaisi
- Pool Match 1: Australia U20 v Spain U20 on Sunday 28th June at 02:30 AEST
- Pool Match 2: Australia U20 v Fiji U20 on Thursday 2nd July at 21:30 AEST
- Pool Match 3: Australia U20 v France U20 on Wednesday 8th July at 00:00 AEST
- Seeding Match 1: Australia U20 v TBC on Sunday/Monday 12/13 July
- Seeding Match 2: Australia U20 v TBC on Friday/Saturday 17/18 July
All Junior World Championship matches will be streamed live on Stan Sport
