Australian Universities Rugby League, New Zealand tour

The Australia and New Zeeland University squads at the cultural welcome in Rotorua.

Author: Kelsey Hogan NRL Reporter
Timestamp: Thu 19 Oct 2023, 06:01 AM

As the Kangaroos prepare for their next Test match against the Kiwis, the Australian Universities team is gearing up to also take on international rivals across the ditch.

Selected out of the annual interstate match between NSW and Queensland Universities, a squad of aspiring lawyers, accountants, teachers and tradesmen will take the field in Rotorua on Thursday to kick off the three-match international tour.

Australian Universities Rugby League (AURL) board member and team manager Bob Henderson said the New Zealand tour aims to provide an elite competition which accommodates for rugby league players also juggling study and training.

“The whole program is aimed at encouraging them to remain in education and play some good footy along the way,” Henderson told NRL.com.

“Not many boys make it to the elite level in rugby league and they all should have a Plan B.

“This gives them another option to remain in study and also get their careers on the go, if in fact they don't make it to the elite level of the NRL.”

The New Zealand tour marks the first international since COVID closed down the competition.

In that 2019 tour, the Australian squad featured Dolphins rookie Harrison Graham while 2023 Broncos debutant Josh Rogers and South Sydney player Trent Peoples have also donned the Universities jersey in previous years.

The Australian University squad heading to Rotorua ©Supplied

“Harry (Graham) came with us to Fiji on our last tour in 2019, he was the youngest fellow in the squad that trip,” Henderson said.

“We've also got a couple of coaches that are past players - Matt Church coached Brisbane Tigers to the Hostplus Cup grand final and Joe O’Callaghan coaches at South Sydney and they won the NSW Cup.

“So that's another outcome away from the game, we try and capture what our alumni is doing post-rugby league and how they're still contributing to the game.”

While the AURL hopes to produce more NRL players as the competition finds its feet again, Henderson is realistic about how tough it is to forge a career at the game's elite level.

“All of the boys that come into our program have got the ability but it's a critical age for them as far as their physicality, their preparation and discipline is concerned," he said.

“And there's so many boys competing for so few spots in the NRL. It's hard to get there and only a small percentage actually make it.

“On this tour we want to expose the boys to various cultural experiences. We conduct coaching clinics at schools. We have hospital visits that we conduct.

“We have boys that come through who thought they were washed up but they're not and they've been reinvigorated to stay in the game, which is really, really positive.”