While it is never easy to name such a team and there will always be controversial omissions as our network grows we are confident of becoming far more accurate in the future.
A massive thank you to Herschelle from HS Top 200 and Max from GPS Rugby who contributed with their knowledge of youth rugby in Australia and New Zealand respectively.
To view previous teams, click here.
15) Payton Spencer (Hamilton Boys, New Zealand)
There is an old saying, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree and with Spencer’s father being perhaps one of the most exciting and dynamic flyhalves in rugby history it would make sense that his son would develop into a highly skilled player himself.
Blessed with exceptional speed and vision the skillset the youngster possesses is absolutely frightening and has been a key part of yet another successful year for Hamilton Boys. Keep a close eye on this dynamic young talent, he is going places!
14) Max Jorgensen (St Josephs, Australia)
The latest schoolboy player in Australia to be highly coveted and recruited by both codes. Son of former Wallaby and NRL player Peter Jorgensen, Jorgensen has turned down major offers from NRL clubs to sign with the Waratahs from 2022 until 2024. Max played fullback for Joeys this year, leading them to an undefeated AAGPS season. His speed sets him apart, having also excelled at 7s in younger years.
Jorgensen was rated so highly by Rugby Australia management that he was selected in the Australian Under 20s camp at the beginning of the year and has recently been named in the Australia ‘A’ squad to tour Japan at the end of the year.
Although primarily a fullback we simply had to find a space for him within this team.
13) Jurenzo Julius (Paul Roos, Namibia)
We named Julius as one of our players to watch this year and boy oh boy did he deliver. It says a lot about a player when he was dealing with major injury issues throughout the year yet still made our team, such was the impact he had on the game.
Julius in full flight is a sight to behold, his strength in the carry was shown time and again with bulldozing runs that saw him bounce back forwards and backs alike, his famous “carry tackles” were a viral sensation and with news that he has signed for the Sharks keep a close eye on a player who could go all the way.
12) Francis Manuleleua (Kings College, New Zealand)
Already a New Zealand schools player in Year 12 (New Zealand goes up to year 13), Manuleleua was clearly a player many had high expectations for during the 2022 season. The youngster more than lived up to the hype and is seen by many as one for the future.
He was one of the first names on our team sheet and the combination of him and Jurenzo Julius would literally tear open opposition defenses.
11) Hugo McClaughlin (Gonzaga, Ireland)
McLaughlin’s 2021/22 season was outstanding at every level, a Leinster Schools Senior Cup finalist with Gonzaga, U18 Inter-provincial champion with Leinster, and an U18 Six Nations Festival that saw victories over Wales and Italy and a superb performance against leading lights France.
Through it all McLaughlin was a superstar, whether on the wing or at full back, McLaughlin’s ability to find and make space is outstanding, while in those fundamentals of today’s backfield play he excels. Every inch a modern, and thrilling, back three player.
10) Isaiya Katoa (Barker College, Australia)
Arguably the most talented schoolboy player in Australia this year. Katoa helped Barker College achieve an unbeaten season in the CAS competition as well as beating Queensland powerhouse Nudgee College in the Manu Sutherland Shield exhibition. Katoa has exceptional playmaking ability with his passing and running game, he also excels at goal kicking.
Although he played Rugby Union through school, Katoa is also regarded as the best junior in Rugby League as well. He was selected in the Australian Schoolboys Rugby League team, has been named in Tonga’s Rugby League World Cup squad and has been signed as a marquee player for new NRL club, the Redcliffe Dolphins who aim to build the team around him in the years to come, all whilst he is in his last year of school.
9) Caleb Abrahams (Grey College, South Africa)
Our number 1 prospect in South Africa for the 2022 season, Abrahams already a part of the SA Under 18 squad in 2021 had many eyes on him for this season but despite this proved to be an exceptional talent who scored tries for fun.
His sniping runs, ability to put his players into space and his quick distribution has led to plaudits from pundits all over the country. With the news that the Bulls have secured the services of both him and Garsfontein’s Steven Nel who was extremely unlucky not to make this list the future looks bright for the Pretoria based team with this level of depth available to them.
8) Lachlan Hooper (Barker College, Australia)
Hooper captained Barker College this season, in a year which saw them ranked as the 2nd Best First XV in the World. He was dominant across the field with his carries and tackles, as well as being a threat at the breakdown.
Hooper also captained NSW Under 18s in their wins earlier this season before injury ruled him out of recent games and a shot at selection in the Australian Under 18s. Lachlan’s brother Tom was a breakout star for the Brumbies this year however it looks like Lachlan won’t be joining him and instead staying in NSW to continue with the Waratahs.
7) Tristan Woodman (AKS Lytham, England)
A brilliant school and academy career was capped in March by a series of outstanding performances in the U18 Six Nations Festival, where Woodman was arguably England’s standout player.
Woodman is a genuine openside in the classic sense of the position, always on hand in defence and attack, working tirelessly for his team. If something good happens for his side, it is usually a fair bet that Woodman is in the mix. He possesses real quality with the ball in hand, but it is in the tackle and at the ruck where he has stood out. Now part of the Sale Sharks Senior Academy, Woodman is going from strength to strength, and with the Curry twins to learn from, the sky’s the limit.
6) Lukas Meyer (Grey College, South Africa)
His team mates call him “T-Rex”, we think of him as “The Engine” because Meyer simply does not gas and can play the full 70 minutes at school level with such intensity one kept wondering when he would finally let up. Well the answer was, he didn’t.
One of the most in form players this year and a player we mentioned the need to keep an eye on for the 2022 season Lukas did not disappoint and was as excellent for his country as he was for his school being one of the key players in the South African Under 18 teams clean sweep of England and France.
5) JF van Heerden (Grey College, South Africa)
Another player on our list who enjoyed his second year of junior international rugby, JF is one of the most promising locks to come out of South Africa in recent memory.
An absolute giant standing over 2m tall and weighing over 100kg van Heerden absolutely dominated his opponents this year, and that is saying a lot considering the physical nature of South African schools rugby. Another player who will ply his trade with the Bulls next year we see JF as a mixture of Matfield and Botha in terms of his skillset, ability in the lineout and ability to be an enforcer. Simply put, JF van Heerden is the complete package as a lock and will no doubt be a household name in the near future if he continues to develop at this rate.
4) Harvey Cuckson (Ellesmere College, England)
Cuckson had a storming final year of his school career, excelling for Ellesmere College, dominating with Worcester Warriors U18s, and then showing himself to be among the best in Europe during the U18 Six Nations Festival.
It is a really a travesty that the beginnings of his pro career have been blighted by the collapse of Worcester Warriors, and we can only hope that he finds an alternative sooner rather than later, because with a good club around him, Cuckson could be an absolute star of the future in the second row at any level.
3) Gus Brown (Napier Boys, New Zealand)
An absolute brute of a front row forward, Gus Brown is certainly a veteran of school rugby if there was ever such a thing having played over 40 times for Napier Boys.
Originally a lock, the move to the front row has seen Brown adapt quickly to the rigours of the position and has been like a fish in water showcasing coach Brendon Ratcliffe’s ability to spot talent and develop them effectively.
Certainly one of the most talked about props in New Zealand rugby and one of the few props you will ever see used as a lineout option, Brown will have an amazing future in the game and with New Zealand in need of more physical threats in the forwards department there is no doubt players such as Gus Brown will fill that void in the future.
2) Luca Bakkes (Paarl Gim, South Africa)
The term “Yster” is thrown around a lot in school rugby circles, the term meaning “Iron” describes a player who is tough and uncompromising and there has been virtually no player in South Africa that has personified that more this year than big Luca Bakkes.
The son of Luther, himself an “Yster” and respected hardman Luca is a player that does not stand back for anyone and relishes the physical side of the game. Not since Malcolm Marx was plying his trade at KES have we seen a player that has this much potential in the hooking position.
His carries are destructive, his leadership inspirational and there are fewer who are more menacing than him at the breakdown. We are extremely excited about this prospect, a player who will go all the way.
1) Richie Tupuailei (St Thomas, New Zealand)
6 foot 2 and 128kg, no this is not a pro players measurement this is a school rugby player and a viral sensation, for a reason. The term “freak” comes to mind, not that his height and weight have anything to do with that, after all there have been bigger school rugby players out there before, it is the speed he possesses which has created shock and awe amongst the school rugby community.
We have no confirmation of where he will continue his rugby career but based on what we have seen this year, keep a close eye on him. A big boy with a big future!
16) Vernon Bason (Feilding, New Zealand)
It has been quite the year for “Big Vern”, one of the top rated prospects in New Zealand and a powerhouse of a hooker. Already a New Zealand Under 18 international in 2021, 2022 was the year he stamped his authority on the local scene being a dominant figure for Feilding in the CNI competition.
A modern day hooker with an exceptional work rate both in terms of ball contesting and carries in open play we certainly expect to see a lot more from him in the near future.
17) Tom Stewart (St Michaels, Ireland)
An absolute totem for School, Club, and Country. Hot on the heels of fellow St Michael’s College old boy Jack Boyle, Stewart is the latest major prospect at prop for Ireland.
Outstanding for St Michael’s College, Stewart (not to be confused with his namesake and fellow young starlet hooking for Ulster), he also helped Leinster to U18 inter-provincial success before absolutely shining in a strong Ireland U18 side at the U18 Six Nations Festival. The latest on the Irish front row production line, and arguably one of the very best.
18) Zac Porthen (Wynberg, South Africa)
Known as “The Fridge” Porthen had what can only be described as a dream season. Not many would have thought Wynberg would have bested some of the opponents they did but Porthen’s leadership and inspirational in your face style of play motivated his team to finish within the Top 15 of our national rankings.
His form was rewarded with an SA Under 18 call up where he was named captain of the national team, a massive honour and an untimely injury unfortunately cut his series short but make no mistake that this is a player with a huge future!
19) Jonny Green (Seaford, Wales)
Green has dominated at every level he has played at, and is a true leader on and off the field as emphasised by his position as Head Boy in his final year at Seaford College. For Seaford he was all-dominant, a sure thing at the lineout and a handy player in the loose. Where he comes into his own though is in the grit of the second row, working to spoil mauls, hitting breakdowns and tackles, and putting in a work-rate that almost defies belief.
Wales spotted this early, giving him U20 experience as a 17 year old early in the year before he then starred as one of their key players in the U18 Six Nations Festival. It was no surprise to see Harlequins offer him a contract good and early before the Welsh regions had a chance because this is a player that could go on to reach serious heights.
20) Siba Mahashe (Hudson Park, South Africa)
Only the 4th SA Under 18 representative from Hudson Park Siba Mahashe started the season being discussed as one of the top prospects to keen an eye on but few would have seen him having the season he did with some truly breathtaking displays during the season.
His hand offs will long live in the memory of school rugby supporters, his barn storming carries from the base of the scrum and quick feet earned him the honour of being named as player of the tournament at the prestigious Craven Week tournament.
He will continue his rugby journey at the Lions in 2023 and with the Johannesburg outfits record of developing talent the sky is truly the limit.
21) Murdock Lock (Wellington College/Scotland)
Lock’s school career was cut short by injury, but not before he had already made his mark on the school season in 2021/22 with one of the great schoolboy scrum half performances in Wellington College’s last minute defeat at Millfield.
Injury left him scrambling for options though, but linking up with Scotland U18 ahead of the U18 Six Nations Festival was a real shot in the arm. Lock excelled in that tournament, playing a key role for Scotland and earning a spot in our team of the tournament. From there he has gone on to link up with Bath, and will surely be part of Scotland’s U20 plans. Scotland have a long line of top scrum halves, and Lock could well be the next.
22) Louie Hennessey (Hartpury College/Wales)
Hennessey was a superstar for Hartpury College en route to the 2021/22 ACE League title, he is a powerful and skillful centre with a real knack for finding space. Performances for Hartpury College meant that Cardiff Rugby were keen to see more of the young Welshman, but Bath Rugby were also keen and it was to them that he moved on completion of his time at Hartpury.
For Wales he was a shining light in their U18 Six Nations Festival campaign, earning a spot in our Team of the Tournament after some glittering performances – often in the face of tough outings for the team as a whole. A man to watch.
23) Jye Gray (Southport School/Australia)
After playing his previous two years in The Southport School First XV as a fullback, Gray moved into the centres as he captained the team to a joint premiership in the GPS competition. Gray’s speed and play making are his biggest weapons, scoring and setting up tries when his team needed it most. Although he is not the biggest player on the field, Gray’s defence is exceptional as well.
Much like Katoa, Rugby League is Gray’s main sport with him captaining the Qld Schoolboys to a national championship this year. Gray has been signed by the South Sydney Rabbitohs from 2023.
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
Lili Bester (Maritzburg College, South Africa) Outside Centre
Liam McConnell (Boroughmuir, Scotland) Loose Forward
James McGregor (Newington College, Australia) Flyhalf
Steven Nel (Garsfontein, South Africa) Scrumhalf
Oli Mathis (Hamilton Boys, New Zealand) Loose Forward
Shah-Jehaan de Jongh (Paarl Boys, South Africa) Centre
Shane Wilcox (St Edmunds, Australia) Fullback
Henry Pollock (Stowe, England) Loose Forward
Tristyn Cook (Westlake Boys, New Zealand) Lock
Alfondso Isaacs (Grey College, South Africa) Wing
Hadley Tonga (Kings School, Australia) Outside Back
Finn Carnduff (Leicester Grammar, England) Loose Forward
Inigo Cruise O’Brien (Blackrock College, Ireland) Hooker
Michail Damon (Garsfontein, South Africa) Fullback
Max Ratcliffe (Napier Boys, New Zealand) Loose Forward
Josh Bellamy (Trinity, England) Outside Back
Thurlon Williams (Paarl Boys, South Africa) Flyhalf
Rory Taylor (Wellington College, England) Flyhalf
Te Hamana Te Aute (Rotorua, New Zealand) Wing
Dre Pakeho (Anglican Church Garmmar, Australia) Centre
Matthew Fick (Paarl Boys, South Africa) Loose Forward
Sean Naughton (Kilkenny College, Ireland) Flyhalf
A-One Lolofie (Hastings, New Zealand) Hooker
Ruan Swart (Outeniqua, South Africa) Prop
William Fonohema (Feilding, New Zealand) Prop
Luke Coulston (Gosforth Academy, England) Lock
Luke Kritzinger (Blackrock College, Ireland) Centre
Thomas Dyer (Hilton, South Africa) 8th Man
