Shield Shield young guns given chance to press for Aussie Rugby Sevens, Olympics
They would normally just be preparing for the Shute Shield season but a group of rugby up-and-comers and speedsters have been handed a special chance to impress. NSW SEVENS TEAM.
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A dozen young Shute Shield stars have been handed the chance to impress and potentially press for a spot in the Australian Rugby Sevens squad preparing for the Tokyo Olympic.
Players who stood out for a variety of reasons - including their speed, athleticism, skills and creativity - in the premier club competition last season have been hand-picked for a new NSW sevens squad helping the Australian squad prepare for the Tokyo Olympics.
Already two of their number have been elevated into Tim Walsh’s Australian squad since selection in December in Eastern Suburbs’ Henry Paterson and former Junior Wallaby and under 17s NSW sevens player Nathan Lawson.
“It’s a great opportunity for the young guys in the Shute Shield before the competition kicks off,” said NSW sevens coach Michael Hodge, who is also the first grade Shute Shield coach of Sydney University.
Working in close collaboration with men’s Rugby Sevens coach Tim Walsh, Hodge assembled a squad of players from the ranks of the Shute Shield to represent NSW in big sevens tournaments in Narrabri this weekend against Australia, Queensland and a Pacific team.
“One or two of these guys could push on to the Australian squad,” said Hodge, who played Australian sevens himself and is a former Waratah.
Players who have made the jump from Shute Shield to the NSW sevens squad include Eastwood’s try scoring sensation Matt Gonzales, Gordon’s Tom Silk, Eastern Suburb’s Will Maddox, Manly rugby club’s Yool Yool, his teammate and former Australian under 19s sevens player Hunter Ward, James Turner from West Harbour, winger Brooklyn Hardaker from Randwick, Daniel Donato from Easts, Winiata Cherrington from Randwick, Jack Hatton and Eastwood’s Michael Icely.
“It’s an opportunity to push into the Aussie system and learn some new skills,’’ Hodge said.
“Tim Walsh has driven this to provide an opportunity to young players.’’
The NSW team are playing tournaments in Narrabri this weekend after the Waratahs play their only Super Rugby trial match against the Queensland Reds on Friday.
THE NSW SQUAD FOR NARRABRI: Winiata CHERRINGTON Randwick,
Daniel DONATO Eastern Suburbs, Matthew GONZALEZ Eastwood, Brooklyn HARDAKER
Randwick, Jack HAYSON Northern Suburbs, Michael ICELY Eastwood, Kepu LOKOTUI
Northern Suburbs, Will MADDOCKS Eastern Suburbs, Liam O’BRIEN Brothers, Tom SILK
Gordon Rugby, James TURNER Northern Suburbs, Hunter WARD Manly Marlins, Yool YOOL Manly Marlins
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