Sunday 6 April 2014

The internationals at the 2014 JWRT

imageAs the 2014 Junior World Rugby Trophy gets underway this week in Hong Kong, here is a look at the players in the tournament who have already reached the international stage.


imageTiti Lamositele (USA)
DOB: 11/02/95 | Position: Prop | Caps: 5 | Debut: August 2013
The only player at the tournament who right now commands a place in their senior national team's fully fit 23. Which sums up the struggles the USA have at prop that such a young player is considered one of the top 4 props in the country in a position that is usually the slowest to develop. Lamositele became the youngest ever American international on debut against Canada in August, and then went onto join the Saracens academy this season.

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Djustice Sears-Duru (Canada)
DOB: 24/05/94 | Position: Prop | Caps: 2 | Debut: November 2013
Got his chance to make his senior debut last November following injuries to front line props and impressive performances in last year's JWRT tournament, where his scrummaging played a large role in the U20's reaching the final. Despite his young age he has moved around quite a bit for his career, travelling from Ontario to BC, then to Leicester's Academy after impressing with the U17 team (which he first played for aged just 15) and now back to BC.

imageRevaz Jinchvelashvili (Georgia)
DOB: 18/08/95 | Position: Fly Half | Caps: 1 | Debut: June 2013
Made his debut for Georgia aged just 17 last June when he came off the bench against the South Africa President's XV in the final game of the IRB Tbilisi Cup, becoming the second youngest player ever to play for Georgia. He was the starting fly half aged 16 when Georgia U18 beat Italy U18 in 2012, and helped them repeat that again in 2013. The senior team's head coach Milton Haig, will be working with him and the rest of the squad at this tournament.

imageGiorgi Pruidze (Georgia)
DOB: 02/06/94 | Position: Centre | Caps: 0
Still uncapped, but did feature in a 23 as an unused substitute for the ENC game against Belgium in February 2013. Was a key member of the U18 side and scored the match winning try to beat Italy in 2012 and was first called up into a Georgian senior squad later that year in November. Was also named in the squad for the IRB Tbilisi Cup last year, but still not got capped yet, although he has been a constant member of the Sevens squad.

imageChris Arries (Namibia)
DOB: 11/10/95 | Position: Fly Half | Caps: 1 | Debut: November 2013
Made his senior debut from the bench against Kenya last November becoming the youngest Namibian international of all time. The Potchefsroom University fly half amassed a bundle of points to qualify his team for the tournament.

imageAwie Thompson (Namibia)
DOB: 26/04/94 | Position: Flanker | Caps: 2 | Debut: June 2013
The captain of the Namibian team and one of four full internationals in the squad. The flanker played both the World Cup qualifying wins in June.

Louis van der Westhuizen (Namibia)
DOB: 25/02/95 | Position: Hooker | Caps: 1 | Debut: November 2013
Another Namibian international at Potchefsroom University, van der Westhuizen made his international debut against Zimbabwe last November as the second youngest Namibian international of all time, since bumped down to third youngest by Arries.

Janko Venter (Namibia)
DOB: 19/09/94 | Position: Flanker | Caps: 2 | Debut: November 2013
Made his debut alongside van der Westhuizen against Zimbabwe, Venter is currently at the Western Province Rugby Institute.

2 comments :

  1. too bad there won't be an online stream this year, a little disappointing ... otherwise will be an interesting tournament with about half of the teams, at least, having a good chance to win the trophy

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  2. the results of the first day are as follows:
    Uruguay 33 - 28 Japan
    Namibia 37 - 25 Canada
    Georgia 34 - 10 Tonga
    USA 37 - 0 HKG

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