From judo champion to Waratahs U18s young gun for Jarvis Orr ahead of Queensland Reds battle

He hails from a rugby league hot spot and is a former Australian judo champion but this teen has a different sporting dream and is works towards representing his country in rugby

NSW player Jarvis Orr. Picture: Julian Andrews

Jarvis Orr might grew up in an area well known for producing top rugby league talent and had most of his mates playing the game growing up but incredibly he has never even played a game.

Orr, raised in Bensville on the Central Coast but now living at Narrabeen on Sydney’s northern beaches, reckons he copped plenty from his mates for not playing league.

“Dad was a big rugby guy and a big influence. He headed me to that direction,’’ said Orr, 17, who won an Australian judo crown at age 12 but gave up the sport to concentrate on rugby.

“I’ve always loved rugby. Never played league in my life.

“It’s weird. It’s a good league place (the Central Coast) but it wasn’t for me.

Jarvis Orr getting plenty of attention from a Reds rival in the Super Rugby U26s in 2023. Picture: Julian Andrews

Backyard blitz: Lessons Waratah gun learned at home

“They (mates) said I should play, told me union was soft. But a lot of them played both.’’

Orr, a big fan of New Zealand No.8 Ardie Savea, said he has never desired to do anything else but play rugby to his best ability and is hoping to purse a professional career once he completes his schooling.

“I just love the contact, the rucks and stuff, running around, I love it all,’’ said the 17-year-old.

“I’m big on just living the moment and doing my best in the moments I get.’’

The NSW Waratahs U18 playing a contact trial training game against v Eastern Suburbs at Daceyville.

It’s what he did last weekend as the Waratahs under 18s opened their annual two match miniseries against the Queensland Reds with a big win at Ballymore.

The 50-33 scoreline, however, did not reflect the intensity of the match or how close it was early between the young stars of Australian rugby.

Round two will be played at Daceyville at 12.20pm on Saturday prior to a Waratahs women's match and a battle between the Waratahs A and Brumbies Runners.

The U18s match will be monitored by Australian selectors looking to put together a new squad to take on New Zealand later this year.

“That’s the big goal, making the 18s,’’ Orr said.

NSW WARATAHS U18S SQUAD TO TAKE ON REDS U18S

1LOOSEHEAD PROP Hayden Lavercombe FR, 2 HOOKER Oliver Smith FR, 3 TIGHTHEAD PROP Isaiah Sheck FR. 4 LEFT LOCK Ed Kasprowicz, 5 RIGHT LOCK Ed Baxter, 6 LEFT FLANKER TJ Talaileva, 7 RIGHT FLANKER Jarvis Orr, 8 NUMBER EIGHT Justice Taumoepeau, 9 SCRUMHALF Angus Grover ( C), 10 FLYHALF Jonty Fowler, 11 LEFT WING Tom Hartman, 12 INSIDE CENTRE Matthew Gough, 13 OUTSIDE CENTRE Jarryd King, 14 RIGHT WING Brock Prideaux, 15 FULLBACK Max Palmisani. REPLACEMENTS: Hasani Bloomfield FR, Tyson Burden FR, Keegan Daly FR, Noah Rylands, Tahj Smith, Flynn Farrell, Harrison Dene, Ben Sawyer, Dylan Simmons, Tom Dunn

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Originally published as From judo champion to Waratahs U18s young gun for Jarvis Orr ahead of Queensland Reds battle