No less than six Unicorns are represented and all nine local Dewar Shield clubs are represented in the Melbourne Rising 46-player Extended Training Squad (ETS) ahead of the 2016 Buildcorp National Rugby Championship.
The extended squad, named on Wednesday, includes four local Australian U20’s stars, including forwards Ikapote Tupai (Melbourne), Jordan Uelese (Melbourne Uni), Ta Hosea (Harlequins), along with back Au-Mu Tuimalealiifano (Harlequins).
Tupai, Uelese and Tuimalealiifano have recently returned from the 2016 World Rugby U20’s Championship in Manchester, where Australia finished sixth after going down to New Zealand in a playoff.
“Victoria continues to develop quality Rugby players, evident with seven locals selected in the Australian U20’s squad this year,” Melbourne Rising head coach Zane Hilton said.
“We have a responsibility to providing our emerging Victorian players with development opportunities, whether it’s via an Extended Training Squad or Melbourne Rising selection for the 2016 National Rugby Championship.”
The 2016 Extended Training Squad also includes former Melbourne Rebel Lloyd Johansson, who made seven Super Rugby appearances for the club in 2012, which included a try against the Force.
Following the Super Rugby debuts of Melbourne products Sione Tuipulotu and Rob Leota this season, Hilton has named 24 forwards and 22 backs for a three-week selection trial, beginning on Monday, in search of the next local star.
Dewar Shield leaders Harlequins are best represented in the ETS with 12 players, followed by Power House, Moorabbin and Melbourne Unicorns with 6 each; Box Hill (5); Souths and Footscray (3); Melbourne Uni and Endeavour Hills (1). Division 2 leaders Kiwi Hawthorn have two players included.
Rising selection trials begin on Monday 18 July at Harlequins Oval before the 2016 NRC season kicks off away to the Perth Spirit on Saturday 27 August.
2016 Melbourne Rising Extended Training Squad:
Forwards:
Mike Tyler (Power House), Luke Bryan (South’s), Jack Wotton (Box Hill), Teru Leota (Power House), Mahe Vailanu (Harlequins), Jordan Uelese (Melbourne Uni), Noa Noa (Moorabbin), Soane Naufahu (Footscray), Angus Arundel (Harlequins), Peter Altona (Moorabbin), Will Clift (Melbourne Uni), Murray Douglas (Harlequins), Craig Charters (Melbourne), Hugh Forbes (Melbourne), Ta Hosea (Harlequins), Isi Tevi (Power House), Samu Machon (Moorabbin), Sione Tuafa (Harlequins), Ikapote Tupai (Melbourne), Joeli Baleivou (Box Hill), Sakralia Noa (Moorabbin), Matt Tamalii (Kiwi Hawthorn), Mana Faraimo (Harlequins), Nathan Paila (Endeavour)
Backs:
Lucky Palamu (Harlequins), Keisuke Yamada (Footscray), Brandyn Folau (South’s), Farao Maradonna (Harlequins), Sam Vaevae (Melbourne), Pat Toeta (Moorabbin), Sean Cressy (Power House), Jarred Dowie (South’s), Llyod Johansson (Harlequins), Niua Puaka (Power House), Elias Vole (Harlequins), Taiso Leeana (Power House), Leo Owade (Harlequins), Mataisi Nairava (Melbourne), AuMu Tuimalealiifano (Harlequins),
Chris Ling (Melbourne), Nailati Ukalele (Box Hill), Matthew Rokowaqa (Box Hill), Saimoni Rokowaqa (Box Hill), Troy Woodman (Kiwi Hawthorn), Matika Tomu (Moorabin), Isaiah Leota (Footscray)
Source: Rebels Media Unit
