Andrew Romano is one step closer to donning an Australian jersey.
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The former Orange City player is one of 45 young guns currently taking part in the Junior Wallabies' second camp, which will be used to determine a final squad to take part in the Oceania U20s Championship scheduled for July.
Romano said the first few days have been really intense.
"I was sitting in the car with my mate and I got an email come through and I was pretty stoked," he said of finding out he had made it through to the next round.
"I wasn't really expecting to get a call up to the second camp because I'm younger than most of the other boys."
The group assembled on May 10 in Canberra and will run for a week.
The 45-man squad includes 11 new additions, replacing existing squad members who attended camp one.
"If you didn't perform at the first camp you weren't invited back," Romano added.
"This camp you really have to impress and when we get back to club you've got to keep playing good footy. They watch everything, so whatever we do will determine if we get invited back."
The new additions to the squad are a mix of Super Academy players and club players from Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, and Melbourne who have been identified as performing well and will contribute to the squad's depth.
Junior Wallabies head coach Nathan Grey said: "It's always good to get the squad together and compete for positions. The camp provides continued time to work on our gameplay and connection to each other.
"It has been great watching the players in their respective Grade and Colts competitions and seeing them perform on the field. The strong club competitions provide that arena for growth and development.
"As a program, we're excited for our squad members who have been elevated to their Super Rugby squads. That creates an open door for another player to step in and put their best foot forward."
But even if Ramona's green and gold dream falls just short, he will make sure he comes back with a vengeance next year.
"I'm going to do everything I can to make the coach notice me. I'm going to try and play better than my opposing players that are going for it," he said.
"From the first camp I already learnt heaps of things to do with scrummaging and general play.
"Preferably next year is when I really want to be running on to the Junior Wallabies squad. This year just aiming to get in that 27 man squad which would be the main goal, but if I don't get it I won't be too hurt."
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