Max Coghlan, 14, is an up-and-coming rugby union hooker

THE future looks bright for rugby union, with talented players Max Coghlan on board.

Junior Sports Star nominee Max Coghlan and South West Sydney Academy of Sport executive director Gerry Knights.

THE future looks bright for rugby union, with talented players like Macarthur Chronicle Junior Sports Star nominee Max Coghlan on board.

The 14-year-old hooker plays for Campbelltown Harlequins under-15s and helped the team to the Illawarra District Rugby Union junior grand final with his dominant scrum skills.

Coghlan was rewarded for his form with the Harlequins, representing Illawarra at the Country Rugby Union championships in Coffs Harbour earlier this year. He was then chosen for the NSW Country Rugby Union Cockatoos under-14s side.

Coghlan, who is among the heaviest players of his age in Illawarra rugby, is also in the South West Sydney Academy of Sport rugby union program, attributing his form to the guidance of academy coach Jack Lloyd.

"Jack has helped me at a club, academy and representative level and he has high expectations of his charges," Coghlan said.

Max for Quins and country

"The whole academy coaching staff have been great for me and other Macarthur region players from the Camden or Campbelltown Harlequins clubs because they have given us a great development program."

Academy executive director Gerry Knights praised Coghlan's ability.

"You have to look no further than Max to find tomorrow's local rugby prospects" he said. "He's an up-and-coming star with a physique made for rugby.

"He only started playing rugby union in 2012 but he's already made district and state representative sides."

Coghlan's goals for 2014 include making the NSW Waratahs junior representative program as well as Australian Rugby Union's Pathway to Gold program.

"I want to play hooker for the Wallabies one day," Coghlan said.

Rebel Sport is a sponsor of the award.