11/04/07
By Simon Davis
Sione Uhi from the Melbourne University Rugby Football Club (MURFC) and a member of
the Victorian Axemen Rugby Squad has gained selection into the Australian Universities
side to play against New Zealand Universities on April 24 at the main Sydney University
Oval. Sione will join representative players from the Waratahs A Squad, NSW Country
Cockatoos, Brumbies Academy, Force Academy and other University rugby players.
Murray Harley, former ACT Brumbies and Australian Services Representative will coach the Australian side with Nick Ryan (SUFC) and James Barkell (SUFC) the manager. Murray stated “this is an exciting test for young players to match themselves against one of the strongest University sides in the world.” We have selected a good side which consists of twelve players from the Sydney University Football Club (SUFC), the benchmark of varsity rugby in Australia.” “In addition there are six players from University of Queensland Rugby Football Club (UQRFC) and seven players from the Melbourne University Barbarians side which successfully competed in the inaugural Australian Universities tournament held at University of Queensland over the Easter weekend.”
The MU Barbarians side which featured players from five states and the ACT drawn from 16universities played some very exciting, attacking rugby to defeat UQ 27–7 on Good Friday. Within twenty-four hours the team backed up to face Sydney University and competed strongly but went down 40-17. On day three SUFC defeated UQRFC 27-22. The seven MU Barbarians players selected for the Australian Universities side have been drawn from: University of Melbourne; University of WA; Australia National University; James Cook University; and Robb College (University of New England) rugby football clubs.
MU Barbarians Jared van Heerden and James White from MURFC have been selected as
standby players for the Australian Universities squad. Director of Rugby – MURFC, Simon Davis said that “this was a very enjoyable tournament where the common thread of education and rugby enabled the MU Barbarians side to come together in a very short time to play a very attractive style of football.”
After the game against Sydney University, the team was addressed by Wallaby legend Dr Mark Loane who espoused the ideals of rugby, mateship, education, business and the community - all important facets of the Australian Universities tournament.” The very successful Australian Universities tournament was initiated by the Friends of SUFC through its chairman Peter Hemming, former Wallaby and former UQRFC President Rick Trivett and Past President MURFC Peter Hone. This year's tournament was generously supported by the Friends of SUFC, David Moffat and Roger Allen. In addition resources were contributed by UQRFC, MURFC and Australian Universities to ensure a professional, well organised event.