Yanuyanutawa heads Academy inductees

Sydney University's Jerry Yanuyanutawa in action during the 2007 Shute Shield grand final.

Sydney University premiership-winning prop and Australia A squad member Jerry Yanuyanutawa has been included in the Brumbies Academy for the 2009 season.

The 23-year-old front rower joins Sydney University team mate Nathan Charles as two of four newcomers to into the Academy’s Tier One level for next season.

Yanuyanutawa, nephew of Fijian rugby legend Waisale Serevi, was plucked from Sydney University’s third grade to start in the club’s 2007 Shute Shield grand final win over Eastern Suburbs. He consolidated himself in the Sydney club rugby premiers’ top side this season, including a try-scoring performance in their 45-20 grand final win over Randwick, and was a bolter and the only non-Investec Super 14 player selected in the Australian A squad picked in June.

The Fijian-born prop says he’s excited about joining the extended CA Brumbies squad for 2009.

“I can’t wait to get down there and start training,” he said. “It’s hard to believe that I’ll be training alongside the Brumbies guys when I was playing third grade in Sydney just last year – I’m still pinching myself.

“I’ve played against Nic Henderson, Guy Shepherdson, Salesi Ma’afu and Ben Alexander in club footy and I’m really looking forward to having the opportunity to training alongside them. They’ve all had representative experience with the Wallabies or Australia A so there’s a lot I can learn from them.”

Charles, 19, joins the Brumbies Academy after representing the Australian Under 20’s during this year’s IRB Junior World Championship. The former Knox Grammar student was a member of the 2006 Australian Schoolboys alongside current CA Brumbies Peter Betham and Alfi Mafi.

Yanuyanutawa and Charles join Gordon lock Ed Gower and Warringah outside centre Pat McCabe, and existing Academy members Leo Afeaki, Talalelei Gray and Brent Hamlin as Tier One inductees of the Brumbies Academy for 2009.

CA Brumbies Head Coach Andy Friend says the intake of players represents some of the rising stars of Australian rugby.

“We’re very pleased with the balance, not only of the senior squad but the extended Academy squad as well,” he said. “The Brumbies Academy is an invaluable tool for not only introducing players to a professional rugby program but continuing their physical and rugby development as we expose them to a Brumbies-style of rugby.

“We’ve restructured our Academy for next season into a three tier system, with our Tier One players identified as those we believe could be ready for Super 14 within the next one or two years.

“It’s very important to have succession plans for the senior squad in place and this a great opportunity for these players, particularly when you look at what guys like Ben Alexander, Sipa [Taumoepeau] and Leo [Afeaki] achieved on Academy contracts last year.”

The make-up of the entire Brumbies Academy squad – which included a total of 29 members in 2008 – will be finalised in the lead-up to the 2009 Investec Super 14 season.

2009 Brumbies Academy Tier One Inductees

Sanualio Afeaki
Position: Centre
Physical: 1.86m; 95kg
Born: 20.01.1987
Club: Sydney University

Nathan Charles
Position: Hooker
Physical: 1.83m; 103kg
Born: 09.01.1989
Club: Sydney University

Talalelei Gray
Position: No.8
Physical: 1.91m; 102kg
Born: 28.02.1990
Club: Tuggeranong

Ed Gower
Position: Lock/flanker
Physical: 1.95m; 110kg
Born: 15.07.1986
Club: Gordon

Brent Hamlin
Position: Scrumhalf
Physical: 1.80m; 83kg
Born: 28.06.1989
Club: Royals

Pat McCabe
Position: Utility Back
Physical: 1.86m; 89kg
Born: 21.03.1988
Club: Warringah

Jerry Yanuyanutawa
Position: Prop
Physical: 1.82m; 114kg
Born: 10.04.1985
Club: Sydney University