New Canberra Vikings coach Wayne Southwell will put 34 of the capital's best players through an intense training schedule to see who can handle the step up to the National Rugby Championship.
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Southwell has taken the reins of the NRC side and has called in new and old faces to compete for selection alongside the team's ACT Brumbies' contingent.
The Vikings have proved a successful stepping stone for several Brumbies, with Rory Arnold, Allan Alaalatoa and Joe Powell rising from the NRC into the Wallabies squad this year.
The 34 Canberra club rugby hopefuls will start training next week, with sessions twice a week until August 15 when they will be joined by Brumbies players.
Southwell has named Australian under-20s pair Faalelei Sione and Tyrel Lomax, who are in England for the start of the junior World Cup.
The leading scorer of the Canberra first-grade competition, Jamie Kotz, has also been included while Tuggeranong and Queanbeyan both have eight representatives.
Brumbies officials have postponed plans to rename the team Canberra Kookaburras as it was not financially viable to make changes this year.
The club will remain a three-way joint venture between the Brumbies, University of Canberra and the Vikings Group before switching to the Kookaburras in 2017.
Defending John I Dent Cup premiership winning coach Southwell is in charge for the first time with Brumbies forwards coach Dan McKellar as the director of rugby.
"We have some very experienced players, and some up and coming talents that are set to make their mark on Super Rugby in the coming years," McKellar said.
"Wayne Southwell and his coaching team have seen how these guys play week in, week out and have been impressed with their form over the opening rounds of the John I Dent Cup.
"We brought the club players together prior to the start of last year's NRC and it helped build depth for our NRC program, which was a key factor in our run to the grand final in 2015.
"The NRC is a great way to showcase the talents of players who are on the verge of beginning professional careers."
Canberra Vikings squad: Nick Dobson, Luke Duffey, Jamie Kotz, Pat Tuidraki, (Gungahlin Eagles), Mitch Douch, Carl Elliot, Keith Morgan, Neori Nadruku, OJ Noa, Dan Penca, Brendan Spears, Toby Wilson (Queanbeyan Whites), Seth Going, Brent Hamlin, Connal McInerney, Faalelei Sione, Steve Sione, Harry Tyson, Brendon Woodward (Royals), Cuan Hublutzel, Nick Jones (Uni-Norths Owls), Jake Knight, Dean Oakman-Hunt, Jake Rakic, Andrew Robinson, Ernest Suavai, Sione Taula, Isaac Thompson, Iosua Tonga (Tuggeranong Vikings), Brodie Leber, Harry Lloyd, Eli Sinoti (Wests), Nick Saunders (Easts).
