Chris Edwards was able to sum up how he felt when he was told he’d been selected for Australia with one word – “stoked”.
The 18-year-old hooker could be a Wallaby in the making after being selected as part of the Australia A schoolboys rugby squad.
This followed a stellar performance as vice-captain for NSW All Schools at the Australian Championships.
Edwards will head into camp with the Australia A squad on September 3. They’ll train and play a match against the Fiji schoolboys.
Eight players from the Australia A squad will then be selected to make up the remaining places on the Australian team that will run out against the Fiji under-18s in a curtain raiser Test match before the Bledisloe Cup game on September 13.
“It still hasn’t really sunk in yet,” Edwards told the Mercury.
“It’ll be phenomenal.
“It was an honour to make NSW, let alone Australia.
“We had a talk from Saia Faingaa (former ACT Brumbies hooker) and he said to us that as soon as you pull it (the Australian jersey) on you feel 10 foot tall and indestructible.
“I think it’ll be absolutely sensational and one of the biggest honours you can ask for.”
The Year 12 student and school captain at Hunter Valley Grammar School has worked at mastering his art under the tutelage of coach John Guy, who also coaches the NSW second XV.
Although only small for a hooker , Edwards rated his set work and his movement around the park as two of the best aspects of his game.
“My line-out throw is one of my main things and I’m pretty happy with how it’s going,” Edwards said.
“I’m only 90kg and obviously not all that tall and I’m scrummaging down against 118kg players,” Edwards said.
“I throw a line-out and get in the scrum. Anything else around the park is a bonus.
“Mobility is one of my things. It helps around the paddock a fair bit especially when you’re not triple figure sort of size.”
Edwards told the Mercury that playing at a state and national level was a whole other ball game compared to regular junior rugby.
“It’s now taking another step up in responsibility,” he said.
“It’s a whole other level, especially the speed they play, the style, it’s all a step up.
“You’ve got to really adapt to it.
“We’re playing Fiji schools down at Knox and they’ll be a whole bunch of big guys so it’ll be a test.”
Asked why he loved the rugby union – especially with all the long hours and hard work he puts in – Edwards gave a simple answer: “It’s the old corny cliche of mateship”.
“It’s great having mates around. Jack Howard, who’s another Maitland boy, was in NSW with me and it’s just great spending time with mates and good players.”
Howard played five-eighth for the NSW second XV alongside Edwards, while fellow Maitland player Nick White, who could not trial due to injury, was selected as a shadow player for the Australia A team.
Edwards will use that love of the game and mateship next year when he steps out of the schoolboy game and into the seniors.
Edwards said he wasn’t sure where the game will take him but he did indicate he’d love to use his rugby as a tool to travel.
“I had planned to go overseas so I’m just looking at what I might be able to do overseas with rugby, or maybe just Sydney club rugby,” he said.
“It’d just be terrific (travelling and playing rugby). It’d be ideal. But you’ve got to take it as it comes I suppose
“I’m summing up all my options at the moment before finalising my decision.”
Email a friend
Favourites
Del.icio.us
Facebook
Digg
StumbleUpon
MySpace
Reddit
Newsvine
LinkedIn
Kwoff