“I want to be a part of that”: 2027 Rugby World Cup inspiring Schoolboy whiz
AIC First XV schoolboy rugby young gun Kadin Pritchard is not the first teen of African heritage with big rugby dreams. He outlines his aspirations here.
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St Peters Springfield fullback Kadin Pritchard is inspired by his mother’s motto in life “act as if it’s impossible to fail” which is drawn from their family heritage in Ghana.
Pritchard is not the first Australian teen of African descent with dreams of playing in a World Cup, with Wallaby immortal George Gregan a part of Australia’s champion team of 1999.
Pritchard, 17, has modified mother Brenda’s words from her native Twi language to the translation of statesman Nelson Mandela.
“It always seems impossible until it’s done” is what Pritchard lives by and it is inked on the front of his diary.
From fullback, Pritchard always finds a way to spark some magic. The beauty to his view of the game is how he reflects on his performance and that of his underdog team.
Pritchard, younger brother Treyvon and dad Dan draw up a “work-on list” after every match to learn, improve and implement strategies into the next game of AIC First XV rugby.
Pritchard referenced the theme of “St Peters panic” following their agonising round one loss to Padua, after leading 21-5 at halftime. He is trying to change it to “St Peters patience”, by taking any points they can. In round two, Pritchard implemented this by kicking four penalty goals to upset Villanova 26-19. He will need the help of hard-hitting centre Jirra Twist and elusive winger Dom Morton for St Peters’ giant-killing assignment at home on Saturday against premiers St Laurence’s College.
The youthful mix of Ghana and his father’s Kiwi heritage has been wearing the No. 15 Jersey for the St Peters Lutheran College First XV since Grade 10.
He has commuted on the bus from the Springfield campus to Indooroopilly since arriving at the school in Grade 9.
“At the beginning of 2019, my brother and I had an argument because I wanted to use Queensland socks for training and he said I couldn’t use them because—his words—you didn’t make it,” Pritchard said. He engraved that into his desk at home and used it as motivation leading into 2019.
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Pritchard is a great example of how the announcement of the Rugby World Cup for Australia in 2027 is major motivation for young rugby players across the country.
“I want to be in that. It’s a goal. It’s not my next one, but as soon as I heard that, I was like I want to be part of that,” the excited Prichard said.
“I have to stay on the grind, continue to give 100% at trainings, come to AIC and give 100%, chase an AIC championship and make the Reds Maroon (Under-18) team. Hopefully, I can make the Australian Schools Team for U18’s later this year and go from there,” Pritchard said with determination.
Pritchard and St Peters First XV coach Russell Todd are a massive part of St Peters push towards creating a new legacy for their school’s rugby program.
Following the 2021 season, Pritchard gathered all the boys coming back in 2022 to start their own training. With the help of Barney Radel, Liam Macdonald, Ethan Pass and Jimi Roberts, he created a points system to keep everybody accountable prior to pre-season.
To unify the squad, four groups earned points from gym sessions, doing extras, and also Oztag and touch rugby at the end of the week.
Todd said: “We made a cultural shift in the College in terms of rewarding the right behaviours rather than Year 12 being a rite of passage to playing Firsts.
Todd stressed “If you’re good enough you’re old enough.”
Pritchard now plays alongside his brother Treyvon in St Peters First XV rugby team.
“It’s sick. Everything we do, it’s together. On the holidays you’ll see us everyday at Bob Gibbs Park practising our kicks and passing,” Pritchard said.
The Pritchard brothers sharpen their pace in sprint training with younger sisters Jazarah and Aiyana.
“My parents are really supportive. Everything we do, they are guiding us in the right direction” he said.
The First XV regular idolises Crusaders fullback Will Jordan. He says he’s just a beast. He’s got that speed. And he pops up everywhere.
“I like to play my own style but I will pick what I like from other players and try it myself. If it works for me I will keep doing it,” the eyes-up second playmaker said.
“ I really like Jock Campbell at the Reds too. He’s been playing great.”
Pritchard, along with St Edmund’s College duo Tafito Falaniko Ah-Ki and Larry Siala plus St Laurence’s centre Mikael Ibrahim will fight for selection for the Reds Academy teams to face the Melbourne Rebels and NSW Waratahs in June.
“Hopefully I am pushing the senior squad next year,” Pritchard said in hopes of getting signed by the Reds.
Pritchard had his first taste of fullback in 2019, when the Grade Nine schoolboy was selected in the Queensland Junior Gold Cup White team which won the Queensland competition.
“ I could see everything happening. I could get involved where I wanted to get involved. Obviously running the ball from fullback was fun too” Pritchard said of his favoured position.
Pritchard has been part of the U15-18 Reds Academy since standing out in the Queensland Junior Gold Cup in 2019.
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