It’s been a launching pad for many an international career and former Gunnedah youngster Harry Wilson is hoping the upcoming schoolboys Tri Nations Series won’t be the last time he wears the green and gold.
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The Red Devils junior is preparing to suit up for the Australian Schoolboys against the best talent from Fiji and New Zealand.
The pinnacle for a schoolboys rugby player, the annals of Wallabies history are littered with former Australian Schoolboys.
It won’t be the first time Wilson has represented his country. Last year the second rower was selected in the squad that toured New Zealand and Samoa, the experience motivating him to work hard to make the schoolboys team this year.
“That was my number one goal this year,” he said.
The St Gregory’s student earned his spot after impressing at the Australian Schools Championships, where he captained the Queensland 1’s.
“It was a big surprise. I never thought that would happen,” he said.
Originally named in the Barbarians side last year, Wilson said the tour was an awesome experience.
“I learnt a lot, which helped me,” he said.
One of the biggest things he learnt was the “physicality of getting continuously smacked but having to get back up”.
Facing the Fijian war dance was also “pretty unreal” albeit a bit nerve-racking.
He gathered with his Australian team-mates in Sydney on Sunday. They have an internal trial against the Barbarians side on Wednesday ahead of their clash with Fiji at Knox Grammar School next Monday. They then take on the Kiwis on Saturday.
“They’ll be very tough. I don’t think we’ve beaten them for quite a few years,” Wilson said.
“Last year the team just went down by two points so the gap is getting closer.”
Wilson didn’t get to face the Kiwis last year but said the boys that did play and are involved again have really brought a hunger to reverse the result.
The Tri-Nations comes on the tail of what was a disappointing final season with Terrace. After finishing runners-up in the Brisbane GPS competition last year they could only manage fourth, although they did almost beat arch-rivals Nudgee.
Up by six points and with the siren about to sound they were seconds away from an historic win.
“We hadn’t beaten them at their home in 40 years,” Wilson said.
“(But) They scored off the last play after the bell.”
They still had to convert to win. The initial kick wasn’t successful but after someone from the crowd yelled out the kicker was awarded another attempt and this time he made no mistake.
