Six Sunshine Coast schoolboy rugby union players set to represent Australia
A host of rising Sunshine Coast rugby union talents have reached glowing national heights with a record six players from the region gaining Australian Schoolboys selection. Read what they had to say.
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Six Sunshine Coast schoolboy rugby union players have reached the glowing heights of Australian representation after their performances for Queensland at the recent Australian School Championships last month.
The players from Sunshine Coast Grammar School, St John’s College and Siena Catholic College were selected after their efforts representing the Queensland Maroon and Queensland White teams at the ASRU Champs at Kawana.
The Australian Schoolboys team will play in a three-way competition in September against the under-18 junior Wallabies in Canberra, before departing for Fiji for a two-test tour against Fiji Schoolboys.
In 2023, five players from the Sunshine Coast were selected across an Australian Schools and Australian Barbarians team.
The region was also well represented in the female divisions with Caloundra State High School Student Aamira Renouf gaining selection in the schoolgirls rugby 7s under-16s merit team.
The players’ selection comes after former Sunshine Coast rugby union junior and current Wallaby Tate McDermott praised the area for their efforts of growing the regional pathway.
See what each player had to say about their exciting selections.
Saxon Thompson (Sunshine Coast Grammar School)
Thompson will pull on the green and gold jersey for the second year running despite overcoming dual shoulder surgery in the lead up to the tournament.
“I didn’t think I’d even play to be honest,” he said.
Thompson relocated from Good Shepherd Lutheran College to SCGS at the end of 2023, propelling his recovery timeline.
“I was estimated to be on the sidelines for a year but I came here and they set up a rehab program for me,” he said.
“I was back six and half months after my second surgery so nine months all together.”
Thompson said he took plenty of confidence in playing in front of his family and friends.
“Terrible weather but it was great playing at home, it was very physical and I got a lot out of it,” he said.
“I thought I was quite slow to get going as I was still only seven odd games back playing after surgery and rehab.
“I felt my confidence grew and grew as the tournament went on and I was more comfortable in knowing what I had to do to get back into the Australian side again.”
The talented second row forward said hoped to continue to grow his skills.
“When they were announcing the team they read out numbers four and five and I didn’t get called so I walked towards the back and was kicking rocks again,” he said.
“They got to the reserves and I heard my name which was amazing and a dream come true.
“I’m excited to try and get my name out there this time around.
“Hopefully with this second selection it gives me some good recognition as I’d love to go and play rugby in the Premier Grade next season.”
Zac Nichol (Sunshine Coast Grammar School)
Talented number 12 Zac Nichol has had a unique journey to reach the Australian schoolboy level, one that started packing scrums as a prop during his junior playing days.
Nichol, who began playing rugby union at seven-years-old, made the move to Grammar from North Arm State School in grade seven.
“I was a bit of a big boy when I came to Grammar but by grade nine I think I tried to get my fitness up and started playing in the backs,” he said.
“It was a big step up but I just tried to improve my skills and that’s a massive credit to training here most days.”
Nichol was slow to get going for his Queensland One side before producing an eye-catching display during his side’s 31-17 win against Victoria on the final day.
“The tournament as a whole was a big step up as it was against some very big boys, was a lot more physical and everyone had great skills,” he said.
“I feel I couldn’t do too much in the first few days given the wind and the rain but was pleased with how I played on the final day and I think I showed what I can do.”
Nichol showed the best of his attacking prowess when combining with Grammar classmate Blake Miller on the wing and Sunshine Coast teammate Nate Thompson at fullback.
“All three of us linked up really well for the Sunshine Coast side at regional champs and so that’s something we took to Queensland as well,” he said.
“Blake and I have been playing together for a long time so we just know each others game like the back of our hand.”
Nichol said he was shocked to be selected in the Australian schoolboys side but was eager for the coming months.
“I was actually quite surprised to hear my name get called just because I felt I was slow to get going but I had plenty of pride knowing I squeezed into the conversation,” he said.
“I’m excited for another step up against the top academy players and the Fijians.
“To test myself against the best of the best will be a cool challenge.”
Nate Thompson (Siena Catholic College)
Thompson, who is one of the youngest player to be selected in the Australian Schoolboys side, was a standout in attack and held his own on the defensive end.
The 16-year-old grade 11 student, has been playing rugby union since he was six-years-old for the Maroochydore Swans.
He said he took plenty of positives away from the tournament.
“From the very start of the training camp it was such a good experience all the way through,” he said.
“I met so many new people and so many high quality players as it was a different atmosphere than what I’m used to.
“I obviously enjoyed playing and stepping up against the best players in the country but I also enjoyed getting to know everyone on a more personal level rather than just out on the field.”
The star fullback was the final name to be called, named at number 23 for the Australian Schoolboys side.
“I was pretty happy with how I did, it’s obviously harder to show what you can do but I feel I made the most of my opportunities and was super stoked to hear my name called,” he said.
“I was very excited on the inside to know that I’ve been seen and feel like you’re doing the right thing.
“Going to Fiji will be really cool but I just hope to soak in as much as I can, learn as much as possible from the players and coaches around me and hopefully do it all again next year.”
Thompson underwent a term of school at Brisbane Boys College before relocating back to the Sunshine Coast.
He said to be selected alongside five other local talents was extremely pleasing.
“It’s good to see first hand that you don’t have to be at the other GPS schools to show what you can do,” he said.
“Players can stay at home on the Sunshine Coast, play against decent players and make these strong representative sides.”
Nate Hepi (Sunshine Coast Grammar School)
Despite representing Queensland Maroon as their reserve loosehead prop, Hepi was the first name to be called for the Australian Schools side.
The talented front row forward began the tournament on the bench before being elevated to the starting side for his side’s final two matches.
“It was really fun, I made lots of new mates and to do it alongside the other boys was pretty cool,” he said.
“The competition was really tough through the physicality and everyone having a solid skillset which I feel just increased my game.
“When they were doing all of the awards I wasn’t expecting too much as I just had tunnel vision but to then be named first was pretty cool.”
Hepi started attending Sunshine Coast Grammar in grade seven when he and his family relocated from Jakarta, Indonesia.
The damaging ball runner has been playing rugby union for as long as he can remember and said he was proud to be selected alongside so many Sunshine Coast players.
“I know how hard each of these other boys have worked to get here so it’s really cool to see them achieve this selection,” he said.
“It shows we have great coaches here at Grammar but I’m looking forward to learning as much as I can from the Australian coaches and experience another highly focused environment.
“To be surrounded by other players who are very committed to their sport is exciting.”
Hepi said his overall game has improved significantly in the past two to three years.
“Looking back I think from about year 10 I’ve really improved in my strength, skill, speed, and fitness,” he said.
“I know I’ll be tested in the scrums against those big Fijian boys and the Australian under-18s so that’s probably what I’m looking forward to the most.”
Blake Miller (Sunshine Coast Grammar School)
Miller slotted in at right wing for the Queensland Maroon side where he showed glimpses of his speed and attacking ability.
“I thought I did well but there were a couple of areas I felt I could have done more in,” he said.
“The weather conditions didn’t suit my game but not everything is going to go your way all the time so a big takeaway for me was to try and get involved as much as I can.
“Overall I was happy with how I went and was pretty shocked and grateful to hear my name called.
“To be picked alongside five other local boys is pretty rare I think, it’s not often you get to play at such a high level with your mates.”
Miller has been playing rugby union since he was nine-years-old and was excited to see what more he could learn in the coming months.
“It was a great experience against great opposition and to do it alongside a number of Sunshine Coast players was pretty cool,” he said.
“I’ve never played at an Australian level before so it’ll be really cool to see what that’s like as well as going on tour as a team.
“I’m hoping to get some sort of pathway out of it all whether that’s going to a club team or anywhere next year.
“Overall I just want to play my best footy and see what I can make of it.”
William Graham (St John’s College)
Another Maroochydore Swans talent, Graham has been playing rugby union since he was 10-years-old but said he learnt most of his takeaways off field during the tournament.
“I really just enjoyed being with the boys, bonding with people I’ve never played with before,” he said.
“It was a good experience in understanding a bit more of the behind the scenes work and preparation.
“Everything you do in the lead up has an effect on your performance so it gave me a bit more of an insight into what to eat and what I should be doing at certain points in the lead up to the game which all went a long way I felt.”
Graham, who plays as a scrum-half, was named at number 21 for the Australian Schoolboys team.
“Even though the results didn’t go our way we put good performances together which shows in so many of us getting selected,” he said.
“I feel like I went well and was happy with my performances.
“I know I’ve still got areas to improve on but that’s what the next level is for I guess.”
Graham said he was ready for the next step.
“I’m excited to meet new people, build new connections and lifelong friends but also develop my skills as much as I can.
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