The Western Force are excited today to announce the 35-player training squad for the upcoming 2024 Super Rugby Men’s U16s.
The 2024 edition is set to run from late September to early November, with Rugby Australia set to confirm the fixtures next week.
The training squad includes 10 players from Southern Lions, who were the 2023 RWA U15s premiers, along with eight members from Nedlands, with both sides currently in the top four of the 2024 RWA U16s ladder.
The group commenced training last month and will continue on every Monday and Wednesday at UWA Rugby Club in the lead-up to the season.
The Force’s U16s team will be led by RugbyWA attack, skills and kicking coach Gavin Laycock and ably supported by David Wells and Damien Elton as assistant coaches.
Wells is currently Joondalup’s director of rugby – juniors and has experience coaching the State U16s and U18s in the past.
Elton previously led the U16s side and has had coaching roles with Wests, Associates and Nedlands, having had a strong playing career locally.
The Force thanks partners Fortescue, UWA, Goodyear, AFGRI and Elan as well as RugbyWA for their support of the U16s and U19s programs.
Watch every game live and on-demand via Stan Sport.
U16s training squad:
Props: Dozion Laupama (Kalamunda Districts), Dylan Francis (Nedlands), Rueben Sulusulumaivasa (Nedlands), Khan Corbett-Gagamoe (Rockingham)
Hookers: Luke Scheepers (Cottesloe), Friday Toko (Southern Lions), Apakuki Te Hiko (Mandurah Pirates), Ben Ridgewell (Joondalup Brothers)
Locks: Leeson Tiakia (Joondalup Brothers), Bareek Kleine-Deters Ausage (Southern Lions), Kordel Wharepapa (Southern Lions)
Back-rowers: Hohepa Matehaere (Southern Lions), Joel Ockenden (Rockingham), Rudolf Johannes van der Merwe (Rockingham), Cruise Morrison (Southern Lions), Luke Wessels (Scotch College), James Aleni (Nedlands)
Scrum-halves: Cyrus Cullen (Nedlands), Juan Pablo Martin Coria (Joondalup Brothers), Gauge Newton* (Southern Lions)
Fly-halves: Matua Reedy (Nedlands), Archie Elton (Wests Scarborough)
Centres: Chase Bunce (Cottesloe), Fatani Fatanitavake (Kalamunda Districts), Soni Uasilaa (Rockingham), Michael Turukawa (Nedlands)
Wings: Leighay-Jade Tauranga (Southern Lions), Connor Capewell (Southern Lions), Nathaniel Misa (Southern Lions), Lincoln Williams (Wests Scarborough)
Full-backs: Jacob Scoon (Southern Lions), Ashton Williams (Cottesloe)
Development players: Lachlan Ilott (Nedlands), Iarlaith Flaherty (Joondalup Brothers), Marco Nel (Nedlands)
*injured in training
View the full Super Rugby U16s fixtures here
