RUGBY UNION
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
ALREADY an undeniable talent after stints in Central West and NSW Country Junior Rugby Union sides, Orange City junior Hunter Ward’s move to Bathurst’s St Stanislaus College this year paid off, big time.
Ward made the move in a bid to further his rugby and said he would have been happy to just earn a call up to Stannies’ first XV at some stage during the 2015 Independent Sporting Association season.
He got that, despite only being in year 10, and plenty more.
Having held his spot in Stannies’ back-row all year Ward earned selection in ISA’s under 16 side, which finished second at the NSW Schools Under 16 Championships.
From there, and Ward admitted he never dreamed it was possible, he was named in the NSW Schoolboys under 16 side.
Ward and his NSW teammates won the NSW Rugby Under 16 Invitational Tournament title at Eastwood’s TG Millner Field last weekend, capping off an incredible year for the 16-year-old.
“I didn’t know too much about the representative sides,” Ward admitted.
“I didn’t even think I’d make Stannies’ first XV, but I got that opportunity and then got ... picked in the ISA side.
“ISA had never been past the first round of the [NSW Schools Under 16 Championships], but we made the grand final so I think that helped with getting picked.
“It’s been great, I’ve learned a lot with different coaches helping me progress and develop. I played in all the games at the Invitational Tournament too, which was good.”
Ward and his NSW side opened its Invitational Tournament campaign with a 26-nil win over NSW Country’s under 16 side, which included a number of friendly faces.
Eight of Central West’s under 16 side lined up for the junior Cockatoos, in Orange’s Yool Yool, Mudgee’s Isaac Mackay, Paddy Dalton and Billy Carberry, Dubbo’s Kyle Gibson, Wellington’s Lincoln Blackhall and Preston Brien and Jack Thurtell, of Cowra.
“It was different, I played with most of those guys last year,” Ward smiled.
Ward’s Schoolboys side then took care of the NSW under 15 squad, winning 22-nil, before finishing the competition with a title-securing 14-5 win over Sydney Junior Rugby Union’s under 16 unit.
“I guess from here I’ll look at the under 18 (NSW) side next year, and then maybe in year 12 the next level, Australian Schoolboys,” Ward said.
