New South Wales Rugby Union has confirmed the Country Eagles and Sydney squads that will meet in Dubbo for the National Rugby Championships round one clash on August 31.
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The Country Eagles squad named contains a slew of familiar faces, with the likes of Coonamble junior Ned Hanigan, Cowra junior Harry Johnson-Holmes and Orange junior Jack Grant all featuring in coach Robert Taylor's country side.
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Taylor, fresh off coaching Sydney University to a Shute Shield title win, will be joined by Randwick's Ben McCormack for the Eagles' 2019 campaign.
NSWRU General Manager of Rugby Tim Rapp said the two squads featured a wealth of up-coming talent from both the metro and the regional areas.
"This has been a collaborative approach from the outset and I think we've put together two really strong squads that feature both up-and-coming talent and experience," Rapp said.
The NRC is the perfect opportunity for us to give young players the chance to grow and develop...
- General Manager of Rugby, Tim Rapp
"The NRC is the perfect opportunity for us to give young players the chance to grow and develop, in doing that you've got to put the right framework around them in terms of coaches and teammates."
Both Hanigan and Johnson-Holmes have previously appeared in the NSW Waratahs side and Rapp says that the squad will be looking to players like them to provide guidance for the up-and-comers.
"The likes of Ned Hanigan, Cam Clark, Harry Johnson-Holmes and Jake Gordon will set the example for those guys, giving them the opportunity to line up alongside players with international experience is hugely valuable."
The Eagles and Sydney will face off at Apex Oval on August 31 at 12pm.
THE FULL LINE-UP:
Sydney:
Forwards: Tom Osborne (Sydney Uni), Rory O'Connor (Warringah), Harrison Rorke (Gordon), Joe Cotton, Ed Craig (Eastwood), Wayne Borsak (Sydney Uni), Charlie Abel (Gordon), Shambeckler Vui (Souths), Darcy Breen (Sydneu Uni), Tuitakau Kioa (Two Blues), Ryan McCauley (Easts), Ruaridh Mackenzie (Warringah), Sam Thomason (Warringah), Lachlan Swinton (Sydney Uni), Hugh Sinclair (Norths), Josh Kemeny (Sydney Uni), Jordan Goddard (Gordon), Christian Poidevin (Randwick), Charlie Gamble (Easts)
Backs: Mitch Short (Randwick), Michael McDonald, Jake Abel (Gordon), Will Harrison (Randwick), Ben Donaldson (Randwick), Harry Burey (Norths), Lalakai Foketi (Easts), Trent Winterstein (Two Blues), Cam Clarke (Norths), James Ramm (Randwick), Richard Wolfe (Norths), Ben Marr (Warringah), Tailiki Nadredre (Two Blues), Tyson Davis (Warringah)
Country Eagles:
Forwards: Angus Bell (Sydney Uni), Tom Horton (Sydney Uni), Harry Johnson Holmes (Sydney Uni), Chris Talakai (Sydney Uni), Matt Sandell (Sydney Uni), Rob Lagudi (Eastwood), Aaron Blacklock (Manly), David Vea (Randwick), Tom Staniforth (Easts), Jed Holloway (Souths), Ned Hanigan (Randwick), Connor Vest (Norths), Nick Champion De Crespigny (Sydney Uni), Maclean Jones (Warringah), Will Harris (Easts), Pat Tafa (Gordon), Michael Icely (Eastwood)
Backs: Jake Gordon (Sydney Uni), Jack Grant (Easts), Henry Robertson (Sydney Uni), Mack Mason (Easts), Connor O'Shea (Sydney Uni), Joey Walton (Gordon), Triston Reilly (Randwick), James Dargaville (Sydney Uni), James Turner (West Harbour), Ben Woollett (Warringah), Mark Nawaqanitawase (Eastwood), Tim Clements (Sydney Uni), James Kane (Sydney Uni)