Australian rugby union under-20s head coach Chris Whitaker named a 32-man training camp squad last week that will gather in Coffs Harbour in April as part of the 2026 Coffs Coast Festival of Rugby.
The camp begins on Saturday, April 4, and will include matches against Fiji’s under-20s side and Japan’s under-23s team.
It will officially kick off Australia’s preparations for the Under-20 Rugby Championship in South Africa, followed by the Junior World Rugby Championship in Georgia.
Former Narrabri Junior Blue Boar Jonty Fowler has been named in that squad and is eyeing off those two international tours, which his brother Joey Fowler and fellow former Narrabri Junior Blue Boar Sid Harvey featured at last year.
The talented young flyhalf is one of 13 Waratahs in the squad, and there are also 11 Queensland Reds, seven ACT Brumbies and one player from the Western Force.
Fowler returned from a shoulder injury earlier this year to line up in one of the Waratahs’ Super Rugby Next Gen under-20 matches last month and then earn selection for the Waratahs’ A side that played in Canberra against the ACT Brumby Runners earlier this month.
The 19-year-old’s successful return from injury will now see him compete among a talented group of players at the Australian camp.
“After a competitive Super Rugby Next Gen competition to begin the year, we are pleased to name an exciting 32-man squad for our first camp of 2026,” Whitaker said.
“Coffs Coast Festival of Rugby gives us our first chance to start building connection on-and-off the field.
“We are looking forward to using this week as a springboard to build towards a strong Junior World Championship campaign in Georgia.”
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