Towering locks Jack Calleja and Rupeni Baravilala have won worthy recognition with selection in the Queensland squad for the upcoming Super Rugby Under-16s competition.
The pair were two of 11 players who earned selection from the South-East Queensland Barbarians side which dominated at this week’s Buildcorp Emerging Reds Cup.
The 2m Calleja, 16, and Baravilala, 16, added more than 200kg of teenage grunt to SEQ’s undefeated run to their first ERC trophy in the tournament’s four-year history.
SEQ’s 45-26 victory over a willing Queensland Country outfit at Ballymore Stadium on Thursday followed earlier successes over Brisbane White (59-7) and Brisbane Grey (22-7).
While Calleja (Ipswich Grammar) and Baravilala (Toowoomba Grammar) will be seen by many as emerging players from GPS schools, there is a much fuller story to their progression.
Both are proud country products. Calleja’s first rugby steps were in Innisfail while Baravilala’s game is being polished at Toowoomba Grammar after he made his first mark in Hervey Bay.
Baravilala is an intriguing blend of his mother’s Greek and Russian heritage and the rugby-loving genes of his Fijian father.
“Dad has basically been my lifetime coach in rugby,” the 112kg Baravilala said with a broad smile after being named Player of the Match against Queensland Country.
“The SEQ boys are a great bunch to play with. There was a lot of team spirit all week.”
He has been a boarder at Toowoomba Grammar for two years after being spotted when a Central Queensland side played a tournament in Toowoomba.
Fullback-winger Dylan Terblanche earned his way into the Queensland Under-16s with his footwork, skills, speed and opportunism from fullback or wing.
“There was a lot of chemistry among the SEQ boys. I really enjoyed the freedom given us by our coaches…we had structure but also lots of opportunities in unstructured play to counter-attack,” Terblanche said.
The Southport School product was named best back at the ERC while powerful backrower Agapetos Lote-Felo, another TSS teen, was named best forward.
Both also won Queensland Under-16s selection.
Lote-Felo finished the scoring by dashing over for the final try against Queensland Country to complete a week of strong-running influence.
The Buildcorp Emerging Reds Cup has blossomed over four years to be a valuable elite pathway competition. More than 200 of the state’s best teenage rugby talents were in action at Ballymore over three days of action.
The State Under-16s will now gather for training ahead of their first Super Rugby Under-16s match against the ACT Brumbies in Canberra on October 5.
For those playing in the Under-14s for the first time, it was a wonderful opportunity to mix it at a higher level.
Brisbane White finished undefeated as the standard-setters in this age division.
Villanova College flanker Hugh Stanbury, 14, summed it up impressively. The red-haired standout represented the BJRU from the Easts club while he plays his school rugby with Villanova.
“It was great using the change rooms at Ballymore and being able to experience it all as junior Reds would through their eyes,” Year Nine student Stanbury said.
“The higher standard and level of play was really good.”
Two Under-14 representative teams will be named on Monday.
Queensland Reds Under-16 Squad
Forwards
Harrison Asi (BBC)
Ritchie Bourne (Good Shepherd Lutheran College, Noosaville)
Visesio Kite (ACGS /GPS)
Tyrece Herniman (BSHS / Sunnybank)
Gavin Wilson-Tyers (Downlands College)
William Adrian De Klerk (Sunshine Coast Grammar School)
Aiden Luke (NC)
Ruben Kruger (TGS / Toowoomba Bears)
Jack Calleja (IGS)
Rupeni Baravilala (TGS / Toowoomba Bears)
Manasa Railati Vunibola (BSHS / Souths)
Jack Burton (NC)
Dyer Akauloa (BGS)
Lincoln Dalton (BGS)
Agapetos Lote-Felo (TSS / Gold Coast Eagles)
Keegan Cook (TGS)
Backs
Kobi Nouanrasy (KCC / Helensvale Hogs)
Alfie Bowman (ACGS)
Isaac Kefu (BBC / Souths)
Rohan Nichol (Sunshine Coast Grammar School)
Angus Underwood (ACGS / Easts)
Pierre Poluleuligaga (NC /Brothers)
Oliver Kennedy (IGS)
Taione Taka (BBC)
Malakaih Beals (BSHS / Souths)
Isaac Fidock (Somerset College)
James Grey (IGS)
Roldan Waike (Townsville Grammar School)
Dylan Terblanche (TSS)
Hemi Rakuita (IGS / Sunnybank)
BUILDCORP EMERGING REDS CUP
Day One
Under-14s
Brisbane White 41 d SEQ 17
Qld Country 24 d BJRU 15
Under-16s
SEQ 59 d Brisbane White 7
Brisbane Grey 48 d Qld Country 18
Day Two
Under-14s
SEQ 17 d BJRU 10
Brisbane White 17 d Qld Country 7
Under-16s
SEQ 22 d Brisbane Grey 7
Qld Country 26 d Brisbane White 12
Day Three
Under-14s
Brisbane White 45 d BJRU 26
Qld Country 36 d SEQ 17
Under-16s
SEQ 45 d Qld Country 26
Brisbane Grey 50 d Brisbane White 7
FINAL LADDERS
Under-14s
Brisbane White 14 pts
Qld Country 8
South-East Qld 4
BJRU 1
Under-16s
South-East Qld 14 pts
Brisbane Grey 10
Queensland Country 4
Brisbane White 0
