NSW Waratahs U19 coach Dan England has named his side to take on the ACT Brumbies in the Super Rugby U19 Grand Final at Warringah Rugby Club on Sunday.
The Waratahs are looking to derail the Brumbies’ quest for a threepeat of titles and will take plenty of confidence from a 64-38 victory over their Grand Final opponents in the final round of the regular season last weekend.
Rat Park will play host to a double-header on Sunday with the U19 Grand Final preceded by a Super Rugby U16 clash between the Waratahs and Western Force.
The defending champion Waratahs U16s opened their season with a 97-0 thumping of the Brumbies last Saturday but expect a sterner challenge against the Force.
After making mass changes last week, Dan England has opted for a more familiar line-up for the decider, led by halves pairing Sam Blank and Henry Conick.
“Last week we were already in the Grand Final so I wanted to give other guys an opportunity to play,” England said.
“A lot of those performances have earned them a spot on the bench for this week.
“The Brumbies got the jump on us in previous years so we’re using this as a little bit of redemption.
“The boys are quietly confident but they know they need to work hard to get the win.”
- Nick Hill (Warringah)
- Tyler Maybery (Randwick)
- Edwin Langi (Easts)
- Ed Baxter (Sydney Uni)
- Aron Brennan (Warringah)
- Arthur Greer (Easts)
- Marshall Le Maitre (c) (Norths)
- Toby Brial (Easts)
- Sam Blank (Warringah)
- Henry Conick (Sydney Uni)
- Tom Watts (Sydney Uni)
- Zach Fittler (Easts)
- Riley Evans (Randwick)
- Tom Farr-Jones (Randwick)
- Louis Fenwicke (Easts)
Replacements
16. Riley Osborne (Warringah)
17. Harper Strachan (Sydney Uni)
18. Dante Siale (West Harbour)
19. Charlie Bull (Sydney Uni)
20. Oscar Affleck (Hunter Wildfires)
21. Thomas Goldie (Sydney Uni)
22. Mitchell Holmes (Eastwood)
23. Max Roach (Gordon)
NSW Waratahs U19 vs ACT Brumbies U19
Where: Warringah Rugby Club
When: Sunday, 5 October 2025
Kick-off: 2.00 pm (AEDT)
The game will be broadcast LIVE and on demand on Stan Sport and the rugby.com.au YouTube channel
The NSW Waratahs U16s have been forced into changes following their first-up win over the Brumbies, with flanker Jayden Richards and winger Julian Minto promoted into the starting side.
Academy head coach Matthew Evrard said the opening game showed the team was prepared to stick to their systems, even in a one-sided contest.
“In a game like last week, it’s really easy to go away from the shape and system, throw offloads and play Harlem Globetrotter footy, but the boys didn’t do that,” he said.
“If you look at our stats, a lot of the things we’ve worked on around attack and breakdown were there. 75 per cent of our rucks were under three seconds.
“Our try scorers were pretty much fifty-fifty forwards and backs. The backs scored from starters or from outside B zone, while the forwards finished when we got into shape in A zone.”
- Asera Peniata (Maitland Blacks)
- Talmage Lemusu (Blacktown Scorpions)
- Kaiasi Talakai (Blacktown Scorpions)
- Will Gencur (Lindfield Junior Rugby Club)
- Ruari Basten (Lindfield Junior Rugby Club)
- Jayden Richards (Newport Rugby Club)
- Cooper Williams (Canowindra Pythons)
- Cordell Arama (Blacktown Scorpions)
- Izak Holmes (Newport Rugby Club)
- Wilson Ruthven (Collaroy Cougars)
- Julian Minto (Mosman Whales)
- Charlie Xuereb (Western Raptors)
- Payton Tarau (Blacktown Scorpions)
- Asher Chapman (Kiama Rugby Club)
- Finn Hannon (Mosman Whales)
Replacements
16. Archie Hill (Dee Why Lions)
17. Hugo Lestrange (Terrigal Trojans)
18. Thomas Chan (Lindfield Junior Rugby Club)
19. Marlee Thomas (Dee Why Lions)
20. Eduardo Garcia Wood (Norths Pirates)
21. Levi Ellis (Blacktown Scorpions)
22. Ziyon Lepolo (Blacktown Scorpions)
23. Ben Wright (Randwick Warriors)
NSW Waratahs U16 vs Western Force U16
Where: Warringah Rugby Club
When: Sunday, 5 October 2025
Kick-off: 11.45 am (AEDT)
The game will be broadcast LIVE and on demand on Stan Sport and the rugby.com.au YouTube channel
