St Augustine’s rugby captain a third generation sporting champion
He grew up surrounded by sport and on stories about never giving up on the playing field. Now Zac Barnabas will put those lessons into practice for St Augustine’s in the schools rugby match against Waverley this weekend.
Manly
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St Augustine’s rugby captain Zac Barnabas grew up on stories with major themes of never giving up on the sporting field and always striving to be the best.
His grandfather Trevor was one of the greatest 18-footer sailors in the country, skipper of the famous Chesty Bond and Omega Smeg skiffs which won multiple titles, including JJ Giltinan world championships.
And so tough, so determined to give his all for sport he lost part of his finger in the process while racing on Sydney Harbour prior to a world championships one day.
“It got caught in the wing net and almost got cut off completely,” Barnabas said of the accident involving his grandfather almost two decades ago.
“He said they could stitch it back on or leave it off. He said cut it off, he wanted to sail the worlds.”
Barnabas’ father Trent, also a former schools rugby star, sailed in his father Trevor’s crew for numerous years and also won multiple world and Australian titles in skiff racing.
It rubbed off on Barnabas, a talented sailor himself.
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“I have grown up in an environment where you work hard to be good at sport,” he said.
“Having the family so good at sport helps. Maybe makes me work harder and be tougher.’’
Both attributes Barnabas will take onto the field when he leads St Augustine’s against Waverley College in a curtain-raiser to the Wallabies v Samoa Test on Saturday.
The last time the two schools met pre-season Waverley College beat Barnabas and his teammates 15-0.
“We’re chasing a bit of redemption,’ Barnabas said.
“It was a lesson learned. It will motivate us.’’
Barnabas, a member of the Australian schoolboys Barbarian team, is also a talented sailor like his father and grandfather.
A former top NSW 29er skiff skipper, he plans to race a 16-foot skiff on Sydney Harbour this summer.
“I grew up hearing about 18s sailing and going every weekend but I have actually played rugby longer than I have sailed because I started it when I was seven,’’ he said.
“One day I’d like to sail an 18-footer as well. But right now it’s about rugby.’’
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