FOUR junior Highlanders were selected as part of the Northern Inland Junior Gold Cup under 15s squad, which will see them compete in the National Rugby Union ‘Pathway to Gold’ rugby competition from Saturday, February 14.
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For Northern Inland the competition will kick off on Sunday, February 15, when they host Hunter at the Gunnedah Rugby Club.
Players from across the Central North and New England zones have combined to form Northern Inland and in its second year, the competition brings together talented players from across the country and provides a pathway for junior rugby union aspirants.
Junior Highlanders president Rowan O’Brien said there will be 24 teams across four pools.
“Northern Inland teams will host Hunter, South Australia and the ACT as well as travelling to Sydney for a tough weekend of rugby, where they will be expected to play Sydney South Harbour on Saturday, February 21,” O’Brien said.
“Then they back up to play Sydney North West on Sunday, February 22.
“ACT were the winners in their pool in 2014, but the under 15s division was ultimately won by the team from Victoria.”
The selection process for the 2015 teams began in October last year. It was followed by a weekend rugby camp hosted by TAS in Armidale, and then the full squad to compete in 2015 was named.
Under 15s junior Highlander Zane Salmon looks forward to the coaching camps.
“The chance to learn more skills from the coaches and catch up with rugby mates has been great so far, and to have weekend training camps is the best way for us to train as a team. It’s the only way we can all get together since we’re so far from each other,” Salmon said.
Brady Mather is a ‘seasoned campaigner’ as he was one of the few players selected last year when he was only 13. He knows what it will be like for Xavier Bundock, who has also managed selection this year at the age of 13.
