13 NSW Waratahs Academy Players Selected in the Australia U20s top 32 squad with a further 4 selected ‘unavailable due to injury’.
The NSW Waratahs Academy is celebrating a significant milestone as 13 of its promising players have been selected for the Australian Under-20 squad and will compete in the 2025 World Cup. This achievement highlights the exceptional talent emerging from the academy, and its staff relentless dedication to hard work.
Andrew Cleverley, NSW Talent Identification Manager, summed up the sentiment, saying the selection is “super rewarding” because it is the direct result of months of hard work. “The players and the staff have dedicated themselves, training relentlessly since November, honing their craft both on and off the field. It’s a fantastic achievement for our organization,” Cleverley remarked.
He also explained how the Waratahs Academy works in close alignment with Rugby Australia’s performance systems to best prepare the players for selection. Our program utilizes advanced training technologies—such as Verve gym equipment, GPS trackers, and countermovement jump mats—to monitor and enhance every aspect of every player performance. This state-of-the-art approach ensures that the athletes are prepared to meet the physical and mental demands of international competition.
For many of the athletes selected, it is a dream come true and is a self-reflection of what hard work can do. Nathaniel Tiitii recalled the emotional moment when he received the call informing of his selection from head coach Chris Whitaker.
“It was on a Tuesday when I got a call around eleven o’clock. I was waiting anxiously, and when Chris called, laughing and congratulating me, it immediately became a moment of pride—not just for me but for my family.”
“My dad was crying; it was a very special moment,” Nathaniel said.
He credited the rigorous training and competitive environment at the Tahs Academy for preparing him for this opportunity. “Our training under Rob Jamieson (Strength and Conditioning) has been tough and intense. Competing against peers pushes me to reach my full potential. I’ve always believed that hard work pays off, and this selection reinforces that belief,” he added.
Jacob Veiru, a dynamic back row player, shared a similar sentiment. Receiving his call on a Tuesday, Jacob described his initial shock and subsequent pride in representing his country. “I was at home when I received the call, and I felt both surprised and incredibly stoked with the news. I immediately shared it with my family—my Mum even cried when I told her,” Jacob explained.
“The intensity and quality of training here has made me a better player and a better person. All of the coaches have been instrumental in developing my physical strength and technical skills,”.
The excitement and significance of wearing the iconic green and gold jersey was not lost on either player. For Nathaniel, who was also selected last year, reflected on donning the national jersey last year saying it was an honour deeply rooted in his personal and family pride. “Growing up, representing Australia in rugby was a dream, and to finally wear the jersey after years of dedication is incredibly emotional,” he said.
Jacob echoed this sentiment, noting that the opportunity to represent his country is a “dream realised after relentless effort on and off the field.”
The selection of 13 Waratah players is a powerful endorsement of the success of the Waratahs Academy’s development pathways. Andrew Cleverley emphasised that the academy’s alignment with national performance strategies ensures that young players are not only technically and physically prepared but also equipped to transition into higher levels of competition.
“By measuring key performance indicators like run loads and power outputs, we can see which players are ready to step up to the next level. It’s a robust system that continuously refines our talent,” he explained.
As these players prepare for the upcoming camps, their selection stands as a symbol of the excitement of the future of rugby in Australia. Their selection reflects years of perseverance, excellent coaching, and the unwavering support of their families and friends as they step onto the international stage.
FINN BAXTER LHP BRUMBIES
NATHANIEL TIITII LHP WARATAHS
NICK HILL THP/ LHP WARATAHS
TREVOR KING THP/ LHP REDS
KALEB AH-COLT THP WARATAHS
EDWIN LANGI THP WARATAHS
JOHN GRENFELL HOOKER REDS
OLLIE BARRETT HOOKER FORCE
CHARLIE O'KANE HOOKER WARATAHS
OLLIE AYLMER LOCK BRUMBIES
CHARLIE BRONSON LOCK REDS
EAMON DOYLE LOCK WARATAHS
JOE MANGELSDORF LOCK WARATAHS
ELI LANGI BACKROW BRUMBIES
JACOB VEIRU BACKROW WARATAHS
BEAU MORRISON BACKROW BRUMBIES
TOM ROBINSON BACKROW REDS
TOBY BRIAL BACKROW WARATAHS
JAMES MARTENS HALFBACK REDS
HWI SHARPLES HALFBACK WARATAHS
LACHLAN SMITH HALFBACK BRUMBIES
JOE DILLON FIVE EIGHT BRUMBIES
JOEY FOWLER FIVE EIGHT WARATAHS
BOSTON FAKAFANUA CENTRE FORCE
MALAKYE ENASIO CENTRE BRUMBIES
LIAM GROVER CENTRE WARATAHS
DRE PAKEHO CENTRE REDS
COOPER WATTERS CENTRE/ WING WARATAHS
XAVIER RUBENS CENTRE/ WING REDS
NICK CONWAY WING/ FULLBACK REDS
SHANE WILCOX FULLBACK BRUMBIES
FINN PRASS FULLBACK/ FIVE EIGHT FORCE
FINLAY KING HOOKER REDS INJURED
BILLY HANSON LOCK BRUMBIES INJURED
ADEN EKANAYAKAE BACKROW SEVENS 7's
AUSTIN DURBIDGE BACKROW WARATAHS INJURED
LUCA CLEVERLEY BACKROW WARATAHS INJURED
SAM McLACHLAN CENTER BRUMBIES INJURED
FRANKIE GOLDSBROUGH CENTER REDS INJURED
LEO JAQUES CENTER WARATAHS INJURED
HADLEY TONGA WING SEVENS 7's
SID HARVEY WING SEVENS 7's
WILL GODDARD THP WARATAHS INJURED
