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Zach Fittler will have to get used to the limelight quickly, with Australia’s U18 coach Shannon Fraser including the bombarding centre in his squad for their upcoming two-match tour to New Zealand.
The announcement of his signature at the Waratahs has been warmly welcomed by both Tahs fans and the Australian rugby public at large – with his father, rugby league legend Brad – revealing he turned down offers from the NRL, Queensland and overseas to sign with the Tahs because he “just likes union.”
“He’s making his own path, so he’s extremely excited and a little bit nervous,” Brad Fittler told 9News in 2022.
“He’s bigger and stronger (than I am). It (changing of the guard) happened a few years ago, so I’m used to being dominated at home.”
However, while his father thought his son “wasn’t fully lost to league yet” earlier this week, someone hasn’t passed the memo onto Rugby Australia, with Foster wasting no time to include the new Waratah on his side’s upcoming tour.
Fittler headlines a wide-ranging squad, with Fraser having plenty of options available to him as competition for spots proved “undeniably fierce” following yesterday’s three-way trial against an Australian Schools squad at Viking Park in Canberra.
“Our selection process has produced an Australia U18 squad that is highly motivated and ready to represent our country on the international stage,” head coach Fraser said in a press statement.
“Competition for spots was undeniably fierce and there are many talented players with long Rugby careers ahead of them who unfortunately missed out on this occasion.
“The group we have selected will be representing all those players, as well as their family and friends, when they pull on the gold jersey in New Zealand.”
The 26-man squad will face the New Zealand Barbarians at St Paul’s Collegiate School in Hamilton on Wednesday 2 October, followed by a clash against New Zealand Schools at FMG Stadium on Sunday 6 October.
For many rugby fans, it will serve as another opportunity to see what Fittler – as well as other players coming through the system – might bring to Australian rugby in the coming years.
Australia U18s squad for New Zealand tour
Angus Grover – St Ignatius College, Riverview
Avery Thomson – GPS Rugby Club
Edwin Langi – Eastern Suburbs
Eli Langi – Brisbane State High School
Ewald Kruger – GPS Rugby Club
Finn Mackay – St Laurence’s College
Frankie Goldsbrough – Easts Rugby Club
Hayden Lavercombe – The King’s School
Heamasi Makasini – Newington College
Heinz Lemoto – The Scots College
Isaac Fonua – The King’s School
John Grenfell – Nudgee College
Jonah Rangiwai – The Southport School
Jonty Fowler – St Joseph’s College
Josh Takai – Brothers Rugby Club
Kingsley Uys – The Southport School
Luca Cleverley – Newington College
Nick Conway – Nudgee College
Nick Hill – Barker College
Rex Bassingthwaite – The Shore School
Sam Blank – St Augustine’s College
TJ Talaileva – Barker College
Tom Howard – Marist College
Tom Robinson – UQ Rugby Club
Will Ross – Padua College
Zach Fittler – The Scots College
