Former Barron Trinity Bull Declan Meredith gears up for clash with British and Irish Lions

Cairns’ own Declan Meredith has described the experience of taking on the British and Irish Lions as a “dream come true type of moment.” Find out what made it so special.

Brumbies gun Declan Meredith with juniors players from his home club, Barron Trinity Bulls.

Cairns’ own Declan Meredith has described the experience of taking on the British and Irish Lions as a “dream come true type of moment.”

Meredith, who lined up at fly-half for the ACT Brumbies on Wednesday night, is a former Barron Trinity Bull who still shares a close family connection to the club.

“With my dad (Wayne) still there and all the boys I played with still around the club, the connection is still very strong,” he said.

“Every time I’m back home in Cairns I make time to catch up with them.”

The Bulls carrying a strong tradition of setting rugby players on the path to take on the Lions, with two former players - Jason Ramsamy and Dale Ah Wang - having played against the Lions in 2001 and 2013 respectively.

Declan Meredith of the Brumbies scores a try in Super Rugby Pacific. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)

Meredith said he hopes he can be yet another inspiration for the next kid who might take them on in 2037.

“It’s always good to show what the Cairns rugby community has to offer,” he said.

“It can be difficult to get a look in when you come from regional Queensland, but we’ve shown it can be done.

“The club has developed a good system and good relationships with clubs like Wests Rugby Club (in the Queensland Premier Rugby competition).”

Meredith said while the side was disappointed to not have repeated its 2013 heroics, the final margin of 36-24 reflected that they had put in a good showing against a team of four nations.

“We were disappointed to not get the win,” he said.

“But looking back on it they’re a great team filled with some of the best quality players in the world.

“We came away head held high and pretty proud of the performance we put in out there.”

Meredith’s family was present in person at the game in Canberra, which he said was a pretty special experience.

“They were all pretty stoked, it was pretty amazing to be able to share that with my family,” he said.

“I spent most of that morning with them, and then saw them at the ground, I think dad still couldn’t quite believe it.”

‘I pinch myself every day’: Barron boy set to take on Lions

Any time the British and Irish Lions come to town it’s a special time in Australian rugby union, but for the rugby community in Far North Queensland the event carries some extra special significance.

Former Barron Trinity Bull Declan Meredith is set to become the third ever player from his former club to take on the Lions when the ACT Brumbies run out on Wednesday evening.

He follows in the footsteps of Jason Ramsamy, who started for the Queensland Presidents XV against the Lions, and also came off the bench in the Queensland Reds v Lions game a few days later back in 2001.

In 2013, Dale Ah Wang came on as a replacement in a “Combined Country” team against the Lions.

Meredith will have plenty of local support behind him at GIO Stadium in Canberra, with his immediate family having flown down to witness history.

His father, Wayne, spoke of the excitement and pride he felt once he knew his son would be taking the field.

“Everyone in the family and within the club community at the Barron Bulls is stoked for him,” he said.

“This is the third Barron player to achieve this feat, there’s not many regional clubs that can boast that kind of representation that I’m aware of.

“They’re three lads that have had a crack and that did it through different pathways.”

Asked whether he could’ve foreseen his son taking on the might of the United Kingdom when he was growing up, Wayne said he “pinches himself every day.”

“I still can’t believe that the kid from Cairns has achieved this,” he said.

“We’re very much looking forward to it. The entire experience and soaking up the atmosphere, it’ll be a special event.”

Originally published as Former Barron Trinity Bull Declan Meredith gears up for clash with British and Irish Lions