Sarah Halvorsen, Mel Howard and Cheech Baker have been included as part of the 32 player squad that was announced by NSW Rugby Union on October 29.

The local contingent slated to represent NSW is also boosted by Commonwealth Games representatives Brydie Parker, Hannah Southwell and Layne Morgan.

The Newcastle Hunter area also has two representatives in the 33 player team list for the Under 17s Youth Girls, with Emma Bradford named at 4 and Jorja Holden named at 17. Jessie Southwell was named as a development player.

Although the region has no entries in the Men’s Open division at the championship, they also have players named in the Under 17s Youth Men’s team – Caleb Hopping has been selected from Merewether High School, and Jacob Rabai has been selected from Irrawang High School.

Central Coast also has an Under 17 selection in Lachlan Shelley from Green Point Christian College.

Hopping, Rabai and Shelley will be eager to prove their merits in the squad, with the Under 17s team preparing for their title defence after winning the Youth Cup in 2016.

NSW Rugby Coach Education and Pathways Manager, Matt Evrard, was impressed with the talent pool that the rep squads could draw after seeing the NSW State Championships and the Central Coast Sevens competitions.

“These are the first selected squads for the 2017 National Championships for youth and senior age groups,” he said. “These teams have been selected from a number of identified selection tournaments all around the state, with the Central Coast being the last one.”

“Over the coming weeks, these squads will prepare to win as many national titles across the different divisions but more importantly, get as many players identified for Youth Commonwealth Games and National Senior team selection.”

The final opens squad – to be named before the event – will travel to Bendigo for the Senior National Championships from November 25.

The youth national competition will be held in Ballymore, Brisbane from December 9.

Women’s Open Team List: Emily Chancellor, Arabella McKenzie, Hannah Southwell, Sarah Halverson, Briiteny Janderhart, Donnay Van Taak, Claudia Bell, Iliseva Baitbage, Olivia White, Grace Hamilton, Kennedy Cherrington, Page McGregor, Mel Howard, Cheech Baker, Lauren Murty, Tiarne Cavanagh, Layne Morgan, Bo Vetty-Welsh, Katie Harrison, Brydie Parker, Darice Morrison, Rhiannon Byers, Olivia Brooks, Jess Sergis, Michaela Emblem, Tamyka Laws, Jade Huggins, Mahalia Murphy, Taliah Fuimaono, Nicole Beck, Emma Tonegato and Chloe Dalton.