'It's crucial': Hewat hopes junior Wallabies get development chance during lockdown

Hewat was keen to continue his mission leading the under-18s team after snapping a seven-year drought to beat New Zealand in a series last year.

Some of those players followed Hewat to the ACT Brumbies, with Reesjan Pasitoa and Billy Pollard turning down offers from high-profile NRL clubs to commit their future to rugby. Scrumhalf Lachlan Albert also joined the Brumbies on a development deal.

Australian rugby has copped plenty of hefty blows in recent years, particularly for its lack of success against New Zealand sides at the senior level.

But Hewat's schoolboy success and the Australian under-20s team making the junior world championship final is proof there's an emerging group ready to start a new era.

The problem is they may not get a chance to continue their rise, with the under-20s Oceania Cup cancelled and uncertainty hovering above the junior schedules.

"I know it has been up in the air. It is a concern because they won't be getting those high-level games against New Zealand and other countries," Hewat, who is also a Brumbies assistant coach, said.

"I know Adrian Thompson from Rugby Australia has been looking to organise games in the back end of the year, hopefully, for those under-age guys.

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"It's a crucial part in their development for those guys and for Australian rugby, to get them that experience in high-level games and the atmosphere. You'd imagine it would be quite difficult with the way things have been going."

Hewat's men beat New Zealand 24-0 at home last year then backed it up with an 18-14 win in Hamilton.

The challenge will be keeping all of those young guns, and the age group above them who starred in the under-20s competitions, given the uncertainty surrounding Australian rugby's future.

Rugby Australia officials hopeful of finalising plans this week for a domestic competition to replace the five-country Super Rugby format for the rest of this year.

The format will need to be agreed to by broadcaster Fox Sports, and the lack of a television deal and funding beyond this year has spooked some players.

NRL teams and overseas clubs are watching those developments closely, ready to swoop players if the situation remains dire.

But there is also optimism the coronavirus-forced break can be used for good as officials contemplate the long-term future and whether returning to Super Rugby is viable.

The Brumbies are confident they can keep their squad together, with several key players already locked in for up to four years. Rival coaches have been discussing the competition format and potential law changes to make the game more attractive to viewers.

"It's not just a matter of rolling out all changes," said Brumbies coach Dan McKellar. "We just want to speed the game up where we can ... but rugby played with the right spirit and mindset is a great game to watch."

The Brumbies won five of six games before the season was stopped, playing an attacking brand not seen since the glory days of the early 2000s. "I'm not sure what the changes will be. We're happy with the quicker tempo in games ... we've changed our style so we're happy to play up-tempo," Hewat said.

"The challenge is to start where we finished [in March]. The boys had a lot of momentum ... they're just excited to play again in July."