Australian Schools rugby championships: Country teen Callum Dunn’s dedication pays off

Even before he hit the pitch, this young rugby player - and his parents - have won the prize for dedication ahead of the Australian school rugby championships.

Leeton rugby player Callum Dunn, right, with Dan James at a CHS 1 jersey presentation. Pic: Supplied.

It’s tough enough battling a bit of traffic to get to training at the end of a log day or on a busy weekend.

But imagine driving for six hours to attend a three hour session, then turning back and doing the same long road trip home.

That’s been Callum Dunn’s - and his mum and dad’s - lot for years as the Leeton High school talent pursues his love of rugby.

DAY ONE WRAP AND PHOTO SPECIAL

Leeton rugby player Callum Dun, centre, with teammates in his home comp.

Now a member of the NSWRU II’s for the Australian schools rugby championships at Knox this week, Dunn estimates his family have forked out around $350 on fuel for each trip to Sydney plus $150 to $200 a night for accommodation.

“They do a lot for me,” said Dunn who’s mother Nyree and father Chris are both passionate about rugby.

“We can do home to Sydney in about six hours and we come down for training and camps a bit so it’s a big thing.”

ISA1's Liam Toole, a teammate of Dunn’s at the Australian Schools rugby championships, playing in recent trials.

Dunn, who lives in the family cattle farm at Yanco, a town of around 500 just outside Leeton, and hopes to study agricultural science once he has left school, is determined to make the most of his opportunity playing at the championships which start Wednesday and run through to Saturday at Knox.

“It’s will be good to get my name and face out there, get a bit of exposure,” he said.

“You have to take every opportunity you can.”

The Australian Schools Rugby Union (ASRU) will name an Australia A representative boys team of 27 form the championships for a three-match tour of Japan in September.

This team will visit the Prefectures of Kanagawa, Chiba and Tokyo.

GPS2's Austin Durbidge gets the ball away to teammate Darcy Fogarty in a recent trial. Fogarty is also in the NSW II team.

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NSW II TEAM AT AUSTRALIAN SCHOOLS RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIPS

1 Jonathan Wehbe Oakhill College, 2 Sam Bourgeois Knox Grammar School, 3 Isaiah Kolopeaua Ashfield Boys High School, 4 Charles Cooper St Ignatius College Riverview, 5 Angus Hayman Cranbrook School, 6 Darcy Fogarty St Joseph’s College Hunters Hill, 7 Keenan Ewings Kirrawee HS, 8 Arnie Tancred Kinross Wolaroi School, 9 TJ Herring Northern Beaches Secondary College - Balgowlah Boys Campus, 10 Thomas Davey Knox Grammar School, Brogan M’crystal St Augustine’s College, 12 Rory Morgan Northern Beaches Secondary College Balgowlah Boys Campus, Max Threlkeld St Ignatius College Riverview, Solomon Tuqiri Waverley College, Zac Sarfati Randwick Boys High School, Callum Dunn Leeton High School, Jasper Jarvis The Scots College, Paul Vaokakala Pittwater House, 19 Aiden O’Neill Knox Grammar School, 20 Liam Toole St Augustine’s College, Hunter Raymond Knox Grammar School, Brendan Palmer St. Francis Xavier College Hamilton, 23 Tino Tavana Waverley College.

Coach: Matt Crawford Kincumber HS, Assistant Coach: Matthew Hopkins Kincumber HS, Team Manager: Jed Peisley Kempsey HS