REVEALED: Why these country rugby union teenagers are being chased by Shute Shield clubs
You may not have heard of them yet but you will. These are the 11 hottest young rugby talents from the bush who have the scouts from the Big Smoke excited.
NSW
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They are young, immensely talented and seem destined for a great future in the game.
But you have probably never heard of these rugby union rising stars
Rugby union scouts, however, have been circling these teenagers from the bush who look set to be playing at a club near you as early as next year.
The under-18 Gen Blue program has thrown a spotlight on the best and brightest talent from the country and the city in a series of late camps and games in 2020.
Now, some of the teenagers who played in Country NSW or the NSW Juniors team, are wanted men in the eyes of Shute Shield Colts recruiters keen to lure them to the city and their clubs.
We take a look at some of the standouts who could be heading to the big smoke in the next few months.
JACKLIN ANDREWS (LOCK)
A young second rower from Kotara High School who began his rugby journey at Newcastle’s Wanderers club in the under 14s and oozes potential.
In 2019 he was selected in the Newcastle Hunter Wildfires team which went on to navigate the season undefeated, winning both the country and state championships.
In 2020 Andrews was selected in the Country side and the NSW Juniors team which played in Sydney in November.
Andrews, tall and known for getting the job done, is in contact with numerous Sydney clubs keen to have him.
COOPER HANSEN (FLY-HALF)
An 18-year-old from Edmund Rice College who plays at fly half with a second preferred position at scrum half.
Hansen has played with the Illawarra under 18s and Colts and has also been a member of the NSW Country and NSW Junior under 18s teams.
He is a former member of Avondale junior rugby union club and Kiama junior rugby union club and rated a highly skilled player with a knack of creating a lot out of nothing.
Also on the radar of Sydney clubs and their scouts.
JAYDEN BLAKE (CENTRE)
From Dubbo College senior campus, Blake was named Junior Country Player of the Year in 2019 and started his career playing with the Junior Roos in his hometown.
His representative pathway includes playing with central west under 14s, 15s 16s and opens and also in Sevens under 15s under 16s and open programs.
Blake was also a recipient of the Sir Leslie Herron Rugby scholarship in 2020 and has represented NSW in both Sevens and 15s rugby.
Blake is seen as a hard, tough player who can play anywhere in the backline and who boasts good skills and defence.
EDWARD BELL (HALFBACK)
A standout in rugby for the Armidale School (TAS) the past few years while boarding.
Bell was raised in Scone and played rugby there from the age of six.
The 18-year-old started out as a flanker but has now found a home at halfback.
He has been on the radar for some years, playing for central north from the under 12s and then selected in the NSW country 40-man squad in the under 16s.
More recently he played for the Country and NSW Junior under 18s in a series of matches and he has multiple Shute Shield clubs interested in him playing for them in 2021.
HAYDEN MAHER (BACKROW)
Born and bred on the Central Coast, Maher played rugby for Kariong juniors, Gosford, Ourimbah and Woy Woy in the past before moving to Coonabararabran in 2017.
A student at Saint Stanislaus College, Bathurst, he made the first XV as a 16-year-old but broke his collarbone, ending his season.
Unable to travel to Sydney to play games this season due to COVID, he returned home to play in a seniors competition in Coonabarabran.
He was then selected in the Country team to play against City and from there, the NSW Juniors.
At 17, one of the youngest members of this group of rising stars, he plays well above his weight and age.
A hard-nosed player with a lot of potential and already turning heads.
CAMPBELL HARVEY (OUTSIDE BACK)
A Byron Bay teenager who started his rugby union playing career in a town better known for surfing and Hollywood types than footy.
He played limited rugby union for his school – Trinity Catholic College at Lismore – before being selected in the under 18s Country squad and the under 18s NSW Gen Blue squad.
Despite only playing around 10 games in his career, Harvey has turned heads and is one to watch in the future.
Described as ‘‘electric’, his speed has made an impression on those who have seen him play.
LEO FERGUSON (FLANKER)
Blindside flanker Ferguson started his career at the Orange Emus and has been involved in the sport since the under sevens.
While attending school at St Stanislaus College, Bathurst, he played First XV.
Ferguson made his way through the central west 15, 16 and 18s rep teams, playing also for the NSW Combined Catholic College 16s team the County 18s team and NSW Gen Blues outfit.
He was also a member of the victorious Emus Colts team that won the 2020 premiership and ended the season undefeated.
This young gun, who has piqued the interest of Sydney club, is well respected and leads by example.
VERENIKI NAUREURE (OUTSIDE BACK)
A popular young Fijian talent with a bright future ahead who was one of the standout players in the recent match between the NSW Juniors and NSW Gen Blues side.
Naureure started playing rugby in Fiji as a six-year-old and moved to Australia when 15. He attended Aronmore Catholic College, a well known rugby school in WA and joined Western Force under 15s before injuring his shoulder.
He has since moved to Coffs Harbour and made the under 16s NSW Country team and then the under 18s Gen Blue team this year.
Full of energy, he is a player with good skills and versatility expected to go a long way in the sport.
HARRY SNOOK (FLY HALF)
Snook played his schoolboy and junior rugby with Calrossy Anglican school and the Tamworth Magpies.
He started rugby at the age of 10 with the Gunnedah Red Devils and in Year 9 started playing under 17s for Tamworth Rugby before debuting in first grade at age 16.
Has plenty of representative history with central north and has also represented NSW in Sevens.
Most recently was with the NSW juniors under 18s team.
This season he played for Gordon 1st and 2nd Colts and also for Tamworth first grade at fullback and fly half.
Shute Shield clubs have shown interest in nabbing this young talent with natural ball skills.
JACK TOUGHER-WELLS (BACKROW)
A former rugby league player who crossed over to rugby in the first year of under 16s and played for the Port Macquarie Pirates.
Tougher-Wells made the country squad in 2018 and toured the USA and Canada.
In 2020 he was selected in the country side and then the NSW team which played in Sydney in November.
An athletic and talented player who appears to have a big future in the game if current interest in him is any indication.
Tougher-Wells has numerous Shute Shield clubs keen to see him make the move to Sydney to play for them in the 2021 season.
He has been earmarked as a young player to watch in the future.
MITCHELL WATTS (LOCK)
He started rugby at the Quirindi Lions before moving to the Tamworth Magpies with Watts stood out from the crowd at a young age.
At 14 he weighed in at 105kg and seemed destined to be a tighthead prop.
He has since moved into lock/blindside flanker for club and Number 8 for his school
Watts has great leadership characteristics and boasts an impressive work rate and ethic.
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