Sydney University Football Club has two representatives in the 28-man Australian squad to contest the Oceania Rugby Under 20 Championship at Bond University on the Gold Coast from 3-7 May.
Hooker Declan Moore and backrower Max Girdler have been selected in the squad which is dominated by Queenslanders after their win in the inaugural Super Under 20 Championship contested over the past six weeks by teams from the five Australian Super Rugby franchises.
New Zealand-born Moore played most of his junior football at St Andrew’s College as a flanker before arriving at Sydney University where he made the switch to hooker.
He played two seasons of Colts rugby before being selected in the Sydney Stars squad for the 2015 National Rugby Championship. His rapid rise continued this year with selection in the NSW Under 20 side for the Super Under 20 Championship.
Girdler is a product of The Scots College. The 2015 Australian Schoolboy representative plays blind-side flanker and number eight and arrived at SUFC where he has been playing Colts before being named in the NSW Under 20 squad.
Australian Under-20s head coach Adrian Thompson said the inaugural Super Under 20s tournament taught the players the standard required to compete at national level.
“I’m looking forward to seeing these players take that next step to compete on the world stage,” he said.
Australia will meet New Zealand on Tuesday, May 3 and Saturday, May 7 in the Oceania Championship.