Pougnault first made state selection for Western Australia in the 1998 youth eight contesting the Noel Wilkinson Trophy at the Australian Rowing Championships.

[2] In 2001 he was selected in the Western Australia senior eight contesting the King's Cup at the Interstate Regatta.

[4] Pougnalt made his Australian representative debut in a coxed pair at the World Rowing Cup III in Lucerne where he placed second.

Later that year at the 2000 World Rowing U23 Championships in Copenhagen he raced a coxless pair with Josh Keogh to a fourth placing.

[5] In 2002 he was in contention for the Australian eight and raced in that boat the World Rowing Cup III in Munich to a second placing.