Australian rugby scores huge win over trans-Tasman rival
He captained New Zealand’s under-19 side but Josh Turner is now on course to represent his adopted country in the Tokyo Olympics.
Olympics
Don't miss out on the headlines from Olympics. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Just six weeks after getting his Australian passport, flyer Josh Turner is on course to represent his adopted country in the Tokyo Olympics.
The 24-year-old former Kiwi made his long-awaited debut for the Australian men’s sevens rugby team that booked their spot for the Games after winning the Oceania Sevens tournament on the weekend in Fiji.
“It couldn’t have been any better, it was such an amazing weekend,” Turner said.
“We trained four months for that tournament and put so many hours of work into it.
“To debut for Australia in that tournament was epic and it was crazy.”
Stream every match of the 2019/20 Gallagher Premiership Rugby Season Live & On-Demand on KAYO SPORTS. Get your 14-day free trial and start streaming instantly >
Turner is one who got away from New Zealand, a former captain of their national under-19 side who came to Australia chasing his dream of becoming a professional player.
And there are no doubts about where his allegiances lie.
“I’m fully Aussie now, I’m all in,” said Turner, who played in all six tournament games.
“It meant so much to me to wear the jumper, I couldn’t put it into words.”
After moving to Sydney in 2016 Turner quickly made his mark playing in the Shute Shield with the Manly Marlins.
His electrifying speed and footwork first caught the eye of Australians sevens Performance Manager Scott Bowen while playing in the National Rugby Championship back in 2017.
He was signed by the Australian Sevens and lodged his application for citizenship 18 months ago.
He was strongly supported in his application by both Rugby Australia and the Australian Olympic Committee.
While waiting for his passport Turner kept on training with the Australian squad, always focused on the big picture.
Turner said since joining the sevens program he was now the fittest – and skinniest- he has ever been.
Bowen was impressed by Turner’s first up effort in Fiji.
“He did really well, he played some big minutes and he’s well on his way,” Bowen said.
“We’ve had him under contract for a year preparing for this and it all came together with perfect timing and he was eligible for our qualifier.”
If they hadn’t won the Oceania Sevens the Aussies would have had to play in a global repechage one month out from the Olympics to try and qualify.
Originally published as Australian rugby scores huge win over trans-Tasman rival