Newcastle players make the grade for Rugby Australia First Nation sevens camp in Sydney
Young athletes have been given the chance to potentially have a crack at making an Olympic team in the future thanks to a new Rugby Australia initiative.
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It’s a pathway which could lead all the way to the Australian team and upcoming Olympics and six athletes from Newcastle are now in contention to make the Rugby Australia First Nation sevens squads.
The athletes are part of an extended 133 strong group of male and female players to be whittled down to two 20-strong squads at an intensive camp in Sydney starting on Friday.
Players made the grade via the #dreamBigTour which kicked off in Bathurst in March and involved former Australian men’s seven assistant coach Jarred Hodges covering more that 20,000 km and testing 1300 athletes between 14 and 24 in a mass talent identification program.
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At the Sydney camp 46 females and 87 males will train, do skills work and be involved in a number of educational programs from recovery to nutrition.
“Newcastle was one of our biggest gatherings from all the tours,” Hodges said.
“We had something like 55 participants. All through the areas we went it has reinforced a real thirst for rugby.
“Everyone who said our First Nations people don’t play rugby, well this proves they do.
“When it is tied in with a cultural program there is enormous interest.”
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Newcastle’s Mackenzie Young has been named in the women’s squad with Jorrel Burazer, Jarom Haines, Jessey James Bridge, Mathew Smith and Ngangarra Barker to all attend.
“They will play a series of games against each other, be involved in educational seminars looking across science, nutrient recovery and wear GPS units while will be analysed.”
The selection panel for the camp included current and former First Nations stars including Glen Ella and Andrew Walker.
Following the camp, two First Nations Sevens squads of 20 will be announced to compete in a series of sevens tournaments with a chance of being identified for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.
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