The Western Force team list for the opening Super Rugby Men’s U16s game against Rugby Victoria has been named with Southern Lions back-rower Bareek Kleine-Deters Ausage to captain the side.
The starting line-up for Sunday’s clash from 10:30am local time at Palmyra RUC’s Tompkins Park boasts four players from each Joondalup Brothers and Kalamunda, with the Bulls having seven representatives overall in the 23.
Kleine-Deters Ausage, who was named in the Australia U16s last year, will skipper the side, with Joondalup loose forward Leeson Tiakia and Mandurah Pirates fly-half Kaiawha Heke named his vice-captains.
The game is part of a triple-header at Tompkins Park alongside the Force playing in the U19s (12:30pm) and Super Rugby AUS (2:30pm) against the Queensland Reds.
Joondalup’s Elia Vodovodo, Kalamunda’s Tamati Tawhitapou and Southern Lions’ Arawa Metekingi Pu-Tamainu make up the starting front row.
Kalamunda’s Oscar Sio and Mandurah’s Enzo Kyle will be the run-on locks, with Tiakia and Ellenbrook’s TiakiTutengaehe Turner the starting flankers in the back row alongside Kleine-Deters Ausage who’ll start at number eight.
Joondalup’s Johan Oosthuizen will run on at scrum-half, teaming up with Pirates fly-half Heke. Kalamunda’s Tini Sauea and Joondalup’s Braden Neho-Udy will start in the centres.
Mandurah’s Amos Bell and Kalamunda’s Tyrese Wainohu will start on the wings, with Palmyra’s Robbie Noema starting at full-back on home turf.
Sunday's game kicks off at 10:30am WST with entry is free for the long weekend triple-header. All games will be streamed on rugby.com.au’s YouTube channel and Stan Sport.
The Super Rugby Men's U16s run for six weeks with five teams competing, with this weekend's games marking Round 1.
The Force thanks partners Fortescue, UWA, Goodyear, ADD Business Group and Elan as well as RugbyWA for their support of the U16s and U19 programs.
Western Force team list
Starters; Elia Vodovodo (Joondalup Brothers), Tamati Tawhitapou (Kalamunda), Arawa Metekingi Pu-Tamainu (Southern Lions), Oscar Sio (Kalamunda), Enzo Kyle (Mandurah Pirates), Leeson Tiakia (Joondalup Brothers), TiakiTutengaehe Turner (Ellenbrook Vipers), Bareek Kleine-Deters Ausage (c) (Southern Lions), Johan Oosthuizen (Joondalup Brothers), Kaiawha Heke (Mandurah Pirates), Amos Bell (Mandurah Pirates), Tini Sauea (Kalamunda), Braden Neho-Udy (Joondalup Brothers), Tyrese Wainohu (Kalamunda), Robbie Noema (Palmyra)
Reserves; Jamie Mackenzie (Wests Scarborough), Liam Brain (Nedlands), Elijah Leilua (Rockingham), Logan Grant (Joondalup Brothers), Kalani Onno (Kalamunda), Eyzirie Koro (Kalamunda), Longoatu Jr Vaka (Palmyra), Kobi Treffery-Koenders (Kalamunda)
Game details
Western Force vs Rugby Victoria
Sunday 28 September, 10:30am WST
Tompkins Park, Alfred Cove – Palmyra RUC
Free entry
Live on rugby.com.au’s YouTube channel & Stan Sport
Followed by Force-Reds U19s game from 12:30pm & Force-Reds SR AUS game from 2:30pm
