France-based giants picked for Junior Wallabies in major RA policy shift

A pair of giant young Australian props based in the academies of French clubs are set to be included in the Junior Wallabies squad later this month, in a major shift in strategy by Rugby Australia.

Junior Wallabies coach Chris Whitaker will next week name a 30-player squad for the under-20s Junior World Championship in Georgia. Australia open their campaign against Spain on June 28 (AEST).

For the first time, the Junior Wallabies are set to have players not based in Australia in the squad, which has traditionally been the eligibility policy.

But with increasing numbers of young Australian players taking up opportunities in French club academies as teenagers – there are more than 30 players aged between 17 and 23 in France – RA has decided to expand the selection boundaries for targeted offshore selection in the Junior Wallabies.

As a result, two players are set to be named in the squad: 130kg tight-head prop Lehopa Leota, who is at Racing 92 academy, and loose-head prop Hayden Lavercombe, a former King’s School and Australian under-18 front-rower who recently joined Vannes in the French second division.

Outstanding back-rower Heinz Lemoto, who is playing for Toulouse, was also considered, but the 18-year-old only recently returned from shoulder surgery and won’t be included.

The policy shift has the potential to be controversial given it will mean fewer spots for youngsters who stay in Australia and come through the home pathways. Whitaker voiced a similar concern last year when the concept was first being discussed.

But RA said the selections would be “limited” and it is another component of a strategy to maintain connections with the dozens of youngsters in France, the majority of whom are tight forwards.

Players who spend three years in a French academy earn “JIFF” contract status, which is valuable to club and player given they can be then counted as a “non-foreigner” in the cashed-up French club rugby competitions.

A group of five players, including Leota, attended Wallabies training in Paris last year as guests. RA monitors the performances and data of all the French-based players.

“We have spoken previously about the need to stay connected with young Australian players if they choose to take up contracts overseas,” Rugby Australia director of high performance Peter Horne said.

“Many of these players still harbour a desire to pull on the gold jersey and intend to return to Australia at the conclusion of their contracts when they are entering the prime of their careers.

“We will continue to prioritise players who remain in Australia, but where there are standout performers based overseas, we will consider a limited number for selection at junior representative level.”

Though the idea of picking players from France had been mooted, the concept firmed into reality after the Junior Wallabies finished third at the under-20s Rugby Championship in South Africa in May, according to informed sources who are not authorised to comment publicly.

The Junior Wallabies were potent in attack but lacked depth in the tight five, and they were beaten heavily by the Springboks.

Leota is a man mountain who played for Queensland’s junior sides before joining the Racing 92 academy, and the 20-year-old even made his debut in the club’s main team in the Top 14 earlier this year. Lavercombe, 19, is a hard-working loose-head prop from Eastwood who came through the Waratahs junior system.

It is hoped the loosening of the eligibility rules will prevent more rising stars being lost to Australian rugby permanently, as seen with giant lock Manny Meafou.

After being unable to get a full-time contract in Australia due to his huge size, Meafou left for France in 2018 and joined the Toulouse academy.

He became one of the best locks in the Top 14 and after five years Meafou declared eligibility for France, having turned down Eddie Jones’ approach to play for the Wallabies. Meafou is now a star of the powerhouse French rugby side.