Both boys have taken part in three-day training camps and are now looking forward to their first interstate game when they head to Melbourne on July 11 to 14 where they will play a Victorian A and a Victorian B game.

They will also play a City versus Country game at the end of July at Foreshore Rugby Park in Sydney when they will play against a team selected from regional Sydney clubs.

Singleton was well represented at the Country Championships that involves representative teams from eight country zones of New South Wales who come together to play a round robin and finals schedule.  Teams are from Hunter, Central North, Central West, Far North Coast, Mid North Coast, Illawarra and New England.

In addition to the players, there are plenty of Singleton names in the support network behind the New South Wales country sides.

Andrew Avard was selected NSW country under 14s coach while Marcus Vaughan is the team’s manager.

Ex first-grade player Scott Dalibozek was selected to be the under 17s country coach and Kim Knight who has been Singleton’s first grade trainer for a number of seasons was appointed Under 17s country trainer.

UNDER 12s

Jayden Duff and Tyler Stafford were selected in the Hunter Wildfires representative team that finished fifth at the Country Championships on May 11 and 12 at Ourimba.  Under 12s is the first age division that junior union players have representative opportunity.   Around 80 players trialled for the under 12s with a squad of 30 selected and reduced again to 23.  Both Jayden and Tyler had plenty of game time during the championships and look forward to bringing their experiences back to their games for their Singleton side.

UNDER 13s

Harry Duff, Reuben Dunn and Alex Vaughan trialled successfully for the Under 13s team.  The trio were members of the under 12s team last year and were pleased to gain selection again.  Of the 23 boys selected last year, just 12 were reselected.  The boys played at Ourimba on May 11 and 12 and finished in a credible second place.   The Under 13s also competed at the State Championships where they faced stiff city competition for the first time.  This competition was played at Blacktown with the boys playing competitively.

UNDER 14s

Askil Mathias plays for the Under 15s competition in Singleton simply because the club doesn’t have an under 14s team and that experience may have given him the boost he needed to gain selection not only in the Hunter side but further selection in the Country NSW team.  The under 14s played their Country Championships at Coffs Harbour on May 4 and 5.  The under 14s is the first time players have the opportunity for NSW Country selection and Askil’s performance at the Country Championships shone with selectors naming him in this side.  Askil attended a training camp at Myuna Bay in May which culminated in the team playing a team from Gordon in Sydney where they lost 24 points to 19.  Askil will also play in the State Championships to be held in Orange.

UNDER 15s

Oliver Collins and Max Stafford were named in the under 15s side and played at Coffs Harbour on May 4 and 5.  The Under 15s won the Country Championships and from this competition, Max was selected to play for Country NSW.

UNDER 16s

Hunter did not field a team in this age division at the Country Championships however Lachlan Vaughan, Hayden Shepherd, Daniel Malloy and Justin Robins were selected for Central North and finished in fourth spot at the Country Championships played in April.

UNDER 17s

Jason Hovi was selected in the Under 17s side that played their Country Championships at Moree.  Jason also plays for the Singleton Under 18s side and enjoyed the experience.

UNDER 18s

Again Hunter did not enter a team in the Country Championships however Cody Fenwick and Aaron Brennan successfully trialled for Central North.  They travelled to Ourimbah in May to play in the Country Championship.