For most rugby kids, they dream of one day donning their country’s colours. For Chase Bunce and Bareek Kleine-Deters Ausage, they’ve achieved that dream at just 16.
In 2024, both Cottesloe’s Bunce and Southern Lions’ Kleine-Deters Ausage received the call to join the Australia Under 16s Development Camp, following standout performances for the Western Force in the Super Rugby U16s.
During their run for the Force U16s, both players displayed incredible talent, with Kleine-Deters Ausage finishing as the league leader for lineout takes (26), with two lineout steals and joint first for dominant tackles, and Bunce seeing a team-high for line breaks (4), alongside seven tackle breaks for 152 carry metres and 237 kicking metres.
In December, the duo travelled to New South Wales to train and play alongside the 25-player squad, which featured the best Under 16s from throughout the country. Bunce went on to be named in the starting lineup for the team in their clash against NSW Waratahs U17, with Kleine-Deters Ausage named as reserve.
“It was a fun time, awesome time, great memories,” Kleine-Deters Ausage commented. “What I learnt was a lot, the coaches were amazing. I guess that’s what you would expect from being in that type of environment.”
“Australian Under 16s was sort of a dream come true,” Bunce commented. “I couldn’t have asked for anything more.”
“Just the skills I learnt from the coaches that were there, learning about professional behaviours, and just the rugby skills it takes to be an Aussie rugby player.”
But for both boys, their journey with Rugby Union started here, in grassroots junior rugby in Western Australia.
“My rugby journey started in Under 8s at Joondalup Brothers,” Bunce said. “I went down to a session and just loved it ever since. Now I’m at Cottesloe playing eighteens last year, and now I’m going to start playing Colts this year.”
Kleine-Deters Ausage started his rugby career, “... at Southern Lions Rugby Club at Under 7s. I still play with those boys now, in Southern Lions Under 18s.” Those boys, being the four-time Premiers from Southern Lions, who have been dominating the competition since Under 12s, and feature an impressive number of members of the RugbyWA Emerging Players Program.
Returning from the Australian Under 16s, both Bunce and Kleine-Deters Ausage return to RugbyWA’s Pathways system, with Bunce in the Under 18s Junior Boys Emerging Players Program, and Kleine-Deters Ausage in the Under16s.
Having been part of the pathway previously, Bunce shared that the Program has made him more confident. “I think when they brought me in, I was really unconfident. I was pretty scared to use my voice, and stayed to myself with my skills and stuff.”
"But I think it’s really helped me come out of my shell, and become the player I am.”
Kleine-Deters Ausage shared the sentiment. “I was very shy, still am, but for me I think I’ve improved on and off the field.”
For both boys, their journey with representing Australia is far from over – their Under 16s appearance marks what are sure to be incredible careers playing for their country. For both, that is a future goal in their rugby careers, to once again step on the field as a Wallaby.
“Just wearing that Green & Gold for the Wallabies one day and making it to a World Cup,” Bunce listed as what he hopes to achieve, with Kleine-Deters Ausage in agreement.
As future rugby superstars, Bunce’s advice to anyone wanting to get into rugby is to go all in. “Just don’t hold back, just get stuck in, get to work and just enjoy it,” he said.
For Kleine-Deters Ausage, it’s to prioritise your health and capacity as a player. “Take care of yourself, especially your body, because that’s the machine.”
Both Chase and Bareek will be returning to RugbyWA’s competitions kicking off in April, with Chase featuring in Cottesloe’s Colts side, and Bareek for Southern Lions’ Under 18s. Congratulations to both boys for their first Australian representation, and for what are sure to be huge careers in rugby union.
