Queensland Reds star Treyvon Pritchard has been thrust straight into the Australia U20 starting side for Sunday’s (AEST) Junior World Championship opener against Spain.
Pritchard will start at inside centre as one of several changes from the U20 Rugby Championship, including the inclusion of French-based duo Lehopoame Leota and Kingbenjamin Swerling-Finaipepe.
Watch every second of the 2026 Junior Rugby Championship live and on demand via Stan Sport.
The Queensland Reds rising star continues his brilliant debut season after featuring heavily during their Super Rugby Pacific campaign.
He forms an all-Queensland midfield alongside Taione Taka, with Leo Jaques (hamstring) ruled out.
Tom Farr-Jones, nephew of Michael, makes his debut on the wing, with Sevens star Cooper Watters on the other wing.
Chayse Geros starts at fullback, with Angus Grover and Finn Mackay in the halves.
Tom Robinson skippers the side, with coach Chris Whitaker keeping a settled forwards pack.
It leaves Leota and Swerling-Finaipepe to come off the bench after joining the team in Georgia from France.
Both are currently in the Racing 92 and Castres academies, respectively, with Leota debuting for Racing late last year.
They are joined by Sevens rising star Wallace Charlie, who was a mainstay under coach Liam Barry on the World Series.
Charlie, signed by the Western Force for 2027, is joined in the back replacements by Sam Blank and new face Charlie Bird.
TJ Talaileva comes onto the bench, with Isaac Fonua and Charles Hollyman completing the replacements.
Australia will also face Fiji and France, the reigning Six Nations champions, as part of their pool.
Australia U20 team list v Spain U20:
1. Jacob Job
2. Ewald Kruger
3. Edwin Langi
4. William Ross
5. Kenneth Harris
6. Luca Cleverley
7. Tom Robinson (c)
8. Eli Langi
9. Angus Grover
10. Finn Mackay
11. Cooper Watters
12. Treyvon Pritchard
13. Taione Taka
14. Tom Farr-Jones
15. Chayse Geros
Substitutes
16. Charles Hollyman
17. Kingbenjamin Swerling-Finaipepe
18. Lehopoame Leota
19. Isaac Fonua
20. TJ Talaileva
21. Sam Blank
22. Charlie Bird
23. Wallace Charlie
