From AFL to rugby for teen Angus Hay dreaming big at Australian school boys championships 2025

He’s only been playing a few years, has kept fit helping his family harvest and is hoping the Australian Schools rugby championships this week will help ignite a career in rugby.

Amanda Lulham

@amandalulham

3 min read

July 6, 2025 - 2:05PM

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Angus Hayl played AFL in the past

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He’s only been playing a few years, has been keeping fit helping his family harvest and is hoping the Australian Schools rugby championships on the Sunshine Coast this week will help ignite a career in rugby.

And while Angus Hay has not had the most orthodox preparation for the biggest tournament of his life - he’s been helping out harvesting seed on his family home in the NSW Riverina - he is still hoping to make an impression this week.

Hay is a member of a Victoria side keen to show rugby is still alive and producing junior talent despite the loss of the Melbourne Rebels from Super Rugby.

He’s also hoping it could activate the relatively new dream of playing rugby at the highest level.

Less than three years ago, Hall, who boards at Xavier College in Melbourne, was playing AFL and had never actually run out on a rugby field for a game.

But encouraged into the sport by a sport master he is now an integral part of a Victorian side hoping to make an impact at the tournament showcasing the best talent in the schoolboy space in Australia.

“I played footy (AFL) all the way growing up and the head of sport saw me and said you look like you’d enjoy rugby,” Hay said ahead of the tournament where Victoria will take on the might of NSW who have three teams playing, Queensland with two, the ACT and Western Australia.

Angus Hall now has the mind and body for rugby. Picture; Supplied.

“I played in a Sevens tournament at the end of the year and just loved it.

“I was falling out of love with AFL. I think my body and head fit rugby.

“I used to be a bit trimmer because I was trialing in footy but now in rugby, I have really hit the gym and got bigger.

From Year 10 to now he has put on 26kg to be 106kg and the right fit for rugby as a hooker and tight head prop for the Victorian side at the tournament which runs from Monday to Thursday.

From Mayrung, near Deniliquin in the Riverina, Hay has been working on the farm harvesting grain and wheat during his school holidays and in the lead up to the tournament.

He is hoping a big performance at the Australian schools will put him on the radar of an Academy in the ACT or NSW with opportunities now limited in Victoria when he leaves school.

“This is all about showing ourselves and what we have. I really want to go further,’’ Hay said.

“We only have one team and the quality of the comp in Victoria is a bit lower than Queensland or New South Wales but we still have a lot of passion.’’

Hay said when playing Aussie rules he used to “get in a bit of trouble’’ for being a bit rough and said it is the physicality of rugby he loves.

“I have six brothers so I have always liked to have a bit of a wrestle,’’ he said.

WHAT AUSSIE SELECTORS WANT TO SEE

AUSSIE SCHOOLS, RUGBY JUNIORS GUIDE

TEENS TO WATCH AT AUSSIE SCHOOLBOY RUGBY

RUGBY GUNS WITH POINT TO PROVE

Australian Schools Rugby Union championship teams Under 18 boys XV: Eight teams: Queensland 1, Queensland II, NSW I, NSW II, NSWJRU, ACT, Victoria, Western Australia.

DRAW BOYS XVs

Monday July 7

10am - QLD 2 v NSW 2 - Main Stadium - Match 1

11.30am - ACT v NSW 1 - Main Stadium - Match 2

1pm - NSWJRU v VIC - Main Stadium - Match 3

2.30pm - QLD 1 v WA - Main Stadium - Match 4

Tuesday July 8

10am - Loser 1 v Loser 3 - Field 7 - Match 5

11.30am - Loser 2 v Loser 4 - Field 7 - Match 6

1pm - Winner 1 v Winner 3 - Field 7 - Match 7

2.30pm - Winner 2 v Winner 4 - Field 7 - Match 8

Wednesday July 9 REST DAY