Former Gunnedah youngster Harry Wilson is ready for a challenging rugby union excursion as he prepares to represent the Australian Schoolboys in tours of Samoa and New Zealand.
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The 16-year-old was originally selected in the Barbarians team, but a month ago he received a phone call telling him he was promoted to the Schoolboys squad.
Twenty-four players rather than the required 26 were originally named, as selectors wanted to delay naming the last two players and see who was in form and deserved a late call-up.
Having been one of the two late inclusions, Harry caught a plane from Brisbane to Sydney on Friday before leaving Sydney on Sunday night and arriving in Samoa on Monday.
Harry would originally have played against Tongan Schools last Saturday, but his elevation from the Barbarians team to the Schoolboys team meant his first game will be this coming Saturday.
The Schoolboys team is scheduled to contest Samoan Schools at Apia Samoa, before their second match is five days later as they contest Fijian Schools at Sacred Heart College in Auckland.
The third match is against New Zealand Schools Barbarians at Mt Albert Grammar School in Auckland on October 3, before the fourth and final match is on October 8.
New Zealand Schools will be the final opponent for the Australian Schoolboys, with this fixture at Auckland Grammar.
Harry was just three when he started playing rugby union for the Red Devils with his older brothers Sam and William, and also playing against them in numerous backyard tussles. This gave Harry a tough initiation as the siblings didn’t go easy on each other.
Harry’s father Cameron remarked that the youngest of the trio had always been a smart footballer and could “hold his own” against his older brothers.
Having started junior rugby union and also played other sports in Gunnedah, Harry moved to Brisbane in 2009 and played for Brothers Rugby Club and his school: St Joseph’s Gregory Terrace.
A second-rower who likes to play an expansive game, Harry was coached by former Schoolboy Mick Crawford, former Wallaby Tim Gavin and Bart Brady during his time in Gunnedah.
On his way to earning Schoolboys selection, Harry had a strong year in the GPS competition as St Joseph’s Gregory Terrace finished runners-up after beating arch-rival Nudgee for the first time in 14 years.
“My wife Mandy and I are very proud of his achievements,” Cameron said of Harry.
“He’s worked very hard and had a great year so far.”
