World School Sevens 2022: Schoolboy rugby gun Oscar Jorgensen cracks Aussie team

This teen rugby talent went to a trial because he wanted to play a bit more football before Christmas. Now he’s heading to New Zealand for the world school sevens event in an Australian kit.

Oscar Jorgensen playing in an under 18s tournament at the NSW Waratahs grounds.

He’s got a cousin with the NSW Waratahs and has been playing schools XV’s all season but now Oscar Jorgensen is about to compete in his first international Sevens Rugby event in the wake of a close encounter with the Australian women's 7s team.

The 17-year-old from St Joseph’s College at Hunters Hill, is part of the Australian youth side preparing under coach Michael Hodge to tackle a host of teams from around the world at the two-day event in Auckland from December 17-18.

“This is actually the first year I’ve played sevens and my first real tournament,” said Jorgensen, who grew up at Russell Lea in Sydney’s inner west and played rugby league as a junior with Leichhardt Juniors and Holy Cross Rhinos.

“We got a taste (of Sevens) when the Aussie women came and played at our school.

“We were blown away. They are ridiculous.

“That was my first real taste of Sevens and I really enjoyed it. It’s fast flowing and you have to think on your feet. It’s eyes up football.’’

Oscar Jorgensen at a major XV event recently. Pic: Julian Andrews.

Jorgensen, who also plays school basketball, admitted he was surprised to get the call-up into the Australian youth team playing in New Zealand.

“There are a lot of older boys and I didn’t expect underage boys like me to get in,” he said. “It’s all pretty exciting. I really can’t wait to get over there and play.

Oscar Jorgensen playing for his school.

Teen rugby player Oscar Jorgensen.

“We don’t really know what anyone else will be like but we have a good sense of we’ve been playing with it against each other for a long time.”

Cousin Max Jorgensen is considered one of the sports rising stars with his father Peter playing both rugby league and rugby union in his heyday.

AUSTRALIAN YOUTH BOYS SQUAD FOR WORLD SCHOOLS 7S

Aden Ekanayake (Barker College), Archie Campbell (St Joseph’s College, Hunters Hill) Jono Ryan (Knox College), Finn Watkins (Oakhill College), James McGregor (Newington College), Angus Staniforth (The Kings School), Hadley Tonga (The Kings School), Rocco Gollings (Nudgee College), Oscar Jorgensen (St Joseph’s College, Hunters Hill), Omar Noureddine (Eastwood Rugby Club), Thomas Klem (The Shore School), Hwi Sharples (St Joseph’s College, Hunters Hill), Toshi Butlin (Brisbane State High School), Beau Morrison (Knox College).

Read more from AMANDA LULHAM HERE

Originally published as World School Sevens 2022: Schoolboy rugby gun Oscar Jorgensen cracks Aussie team