NINE Orange juniors will step onto the international stage this week when they contest the 2014 F-H-E Cup.
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Six boys and three girls will line up in Western Conference teams for the four-day event in Perth.
Kaleb Cook, Henry Jones, Connor Morris, Mike Pengilly, Tom Powe and Jack Fleming will represent the under 16 boys, while Tiff Davis, Dearne Geddes and Georgia Parr will be part of the girls’ team.
The boys’ competition has attracted Japan’s national under-16 team, as well as three Malaysian teams.
Western Australian state teams will also contest the boys’ competition along with a South West side and the NSW Bushrangers.
Japan has also sent its under-16 girls’ national team to compete, and they will also face WA state teams, the NSW Bushrangers, the Futuroos and a South West side.
The Orange boys are looking forward to the international challenge.
“I’m excited,” Morris said.
“The Japan 16s. They’re going to be tough,” Powe added.
The representative duties mean the Orange players haven’t really had an off-season but they’re not worried.
Ellen Van Hoek and Pete Shea have been helping the boys train, while the girls have been given guidance from Alex Said.
The boys have also employed some different techniques to prepare for Perth’s warmer weather, including training in tracksuits.
They have also done some fitness work at 28Hundred Lifestyle and Fitness, which they found memorable.
“We wrestled with some girls and the girls won,” Jones laughed at the martial arts experience.
The Western Conference teams also include players from Bathurst, Lithgow, Parkes and Dubbo, and the Orange boys have enjoyed working with their new teammates.
The Western Conference teams will have training sessions in Perth today and tomorrow before the competition starts on Thursday.
The boys takes on South West on Thursday, the 1Mas Eagles (from Malaysia) and Japan under 16s on Friday, and the Western Australia Gold under 15s on Saturday.
The other boys’ pool includes the WA under-16 schools team, 1MAS Hawks, NSW Bushrangers, Malaysia’s Bukit Jalil Sports School and the WA Black under 14s.
In the girls’ tournament, Western Conference plays South West on Thursday, the WA under-16 schoolgirls on Friday and the WA Black under 15s on Saturday.
The other girls’ pool includes the WA Gold under15s, the NSW Bushrangers, the Japan under 16s and the Futuroos.
The play-offs will be held on Sunday.
michelle.cook@fairfaxmedia.com.au