Two Bond University Rugby players, Harry Nucifora and Josh Taylor have been selected in the Australian squad for the 2016 U20s World Championships.
The 28-man squad will leave for England on May 31, to help adapt to the English conditions and the northern hemisphere style of rugby.
The team’s 25-24 victory over New Zealand in the second match of their Oceania Championship series - which was played at Bond University earlier this month - was a major morale boost for the team ahead of the World Championships.
For halfback Harry, it’s his second World tournament, having been to Italy last year. For Josh it’s his first and makes up for missing out on the Australian Schoolboys after breaking a leg at the National Championships when he was at TSS.
Harry was surprised to be picked, given that he’s been out of action with an ankle injury for the past seven weeks. But he’s been working in the gym and has added 3kgs to his weight last year.
“I feel much more confident this year. Last year I was playing against blokes two or three years older and it was a learning experience. Now I’ve got the NRC exposure with Queensland Country under my belt as well.”
Josh becomes Bond University Rugby Club’s second international after Harry. He played every minute of both matches against New Zealand and felt that the Australian scrum more than held their own. It will be a key factor in Manchester, where the focus will be on the set piece, especially if it’s wet.
Bond University’s Director of Rugby, Sean Hedger, said Harry and Josh had trained hard and played well to earn their green and gold jerseys.
“Bond University Rugby Club has an important role to play in providing a strong pathway for young, talented Gold Coast players to transition from schoolboy to elite rugby on an international stage,” he said.
“I’m sure the boys will do our Club, and their country, proud.”
The U20s squad will spend two weeks at a training camp in Narrabeen, including matches against the Australian Barbarians and the NSW Country side, before heading to Manchester on May 31.
The World Championships in Manchester will be shown LIVE on Fox Sports