Fifteen Queenslanders earn Australian Schoolboy honours

Fifteen of Queensland’s best schoolboy Rugby players will have the honour of representing their country in July following the announcement of the 2012 Australian Schoolboy teams. 

The Australia Schools and Australia A teams were chosen at the conclusion of the recent Australian Schools Rugby Championships in Sydney where Queensland were beaten finalists after six-years of dominance.

Five Queensland representatives have been chosen in the Australian Schools team to do battle against Tonga, including Jack Cornelsen, son of Wallabies legend Greg Cornelsen.  Also included in the squad are talented Queensland schoolboys Lolo Fakasilea, Michael Gunn, Jonah Placid and Aaron Pleash.

A further 10 Queenslanders have been selected for Australia A: Adam Deck, Sam Greene, Adam Korczyk, Marty Ioane, Tim Manns, Francois Postal, Phillip Potgieter, Dlan Sikimeti, Ben Turr, and Jack Tuttle.

Queensland’s heavy influence on the two national schoolboy teams also extends beyond the 15 playing representatives with Queenslanders Stephen Phillpotts and Michael Wallace to coach Australia Schools and Australia A respectively.

Queensland Reds coach Ewen McKenzie congratulated the state’s representatives.

“Schoolboy Rugby is one of the major development pathways for players wanting to progress onto the next level and I congratulate all 15 Queenslanders, and coaches, chosen for Australia,” McKenzie said.

“Our current Reds squad is littered with former Queensland Schoolboy talent, including Will Genia and Quade Cooper, and anytime you represent your country is a huge honour.”

Despite losing 26-7 in the final, Queensland I and Queensland II put in solid performances throughout the Australian Schools Rugby Championships and finished in second and fourth place respectively.

With the exception of the finals loss, Queensland I managed to win every other game with impressive performances against Combined States, Victoria, and most notably a 52-0 win over Western Australia on the second day of competition.

Queensland II also put in a solid showing throughout the tournament winning their first two games against ACT and Victoria convincingly going down to New South Wales II in the playoff for third.

Australia A side to play Tongan Schools
St. Ignatius’ College, Riverview
Wednesday 11^th July at 2:30pm

Australian Schools to play Tongan Schools
St. Mary’s Leagues Stadium
Saturday 14^th July at 6pm