In the Under-18 men's, Tyler Robertson and Sean MacDonald have returned for Vic Metro as they look to defend their 2016 Championship.
However, several members of the Australian Under-17 national team will be looking to dethrone them including Lachlan Dent from NSW Country, Benjamin Fakira from NSW Metro and Samson Froling from Queensland North.
That Queensland North side will also be buoyed by their home fans as Froling, alongside five team mates, will be aiming to replicate their gold medal from the 2015 Under 16’s.
Vic Metro are also heading to Townsville with the aim to defend their title in the Under-18 women’s and if they are successful, they will win a fourth straight Championship for the fourth time in the tournament’s history.
Queensland South may stand in their way though with Paige Bayliss, Jessica McDowell-White, Jade Kirisome, Monika Faerber, Miela Goodchild, Brianna Gregory-Johnson and Ula Motuga all together again after winning the Under-16’s gold medal two years ago while a number of the team was also successful with Southern Districts at the Under-14’s four years ago.
Shyla Heal has made the move to NSW Metro this year which will add another layer of interest to their clash with Queensland South.
The Kevin Coombs Cup has been won by Queensland teams two of the past three years which will give the home team confidence but NSW can win a third title in the six-year history of the tournament if they defend their 2016 Championship.
Nicholas Scott of the Australian Under-23 Spinners will be a key component of NSW’s title defence although Queensland White boast the most representatives from that national team with Bailey Rowland, Anderson Parker, Jake Fulwood, Dylan Gawthorne all competing this year.
Thomas Holland, Steven Elliott and Spinners captain Tom O’Neill-Thorne will represent Queensland Maroon and Jeremy Tyndall, Jontee Brown, Brian Carminati will look to bring success back to Victoria while Western Australia’s Thomas McHugh rounds out the Under-23 squad.
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