Chayce Bayles to make Australian debut at Asia Pacific Youth Touch Cup
From country Queensland to the world stage. Meet the teen star ready to wear Aussie green and gold as he takes on some of the world’s best touch football players.
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Chayce Bayles is set to realise a sporting dream, making his Australian debut at the Asia Pacific Youth Touch Cup this week.
The hard-working middle has been selected in the Emus under-18 boys team for the three-day tournament in Brisbane, which starts on Thursday.
“It’s pretty special. It does mean a lot,” he said.
Bayles is the latest star to roll off Rockhampton’s incredible production line of elite level touch players.
Two other city reps will also be wearing the green and gold, with Liam Barnes in the under-20 men and Lilla Pratt in the under-20 women.
The APYTC is designed to showcase the best emerging youth talent on the international stage and will feature 23 teams across 10 nations competing in six divisions.
Australia will be out to repeat the dominance it showed in the inaugural event in 2023, where it swept all divisions to be crowned champion nation.
Bayles cannot wait to do his bit and has high hopes for his team.
“To come home with a medal,” he replied, when asked what he was hoping to achieve.
“It should be really competitive.
“We play Lebanon, New Zealand and Niue and I believe New Zealand will be our toughest game.”
Bayles has represented Queensland but said representing Australia would be “awesome” and something he’d long aspired to achieve.
He has played touch in tandem with his other sporting love - rugby league - in a formula he thinks has strengthened his game in both codes.
“It’s been really good for that eyes-up play and ball skills,” he said.
Bayles said his success came down to “hard work and the coaching”, and considers Damon Moore one of his greatest mentors and inspirations.
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