UPDATE: After winning the country champs Hunter Wildfires and Singleton Bulls Alex Vaughan and Jayden Duff were selected in the 30-man NSW Country Open (U18) Junior Rugby Squad.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
But now, they have learned they are officially in the team.
17-year-old Vaughan and 16-year-old Duff survived the cut and are set to progress along the New South Wales Junior Rugby Union (NSWJRU) U18 Rep pathway as a part of the NSW Country side.
This means they will get the opportunity to impress selectors at the NSWJRU U18 Trial Day on June 24.
From this internal trial day two NSWJRU sides will be named and they will take on GPS:
- NSWJRU I U18 v GPS III Blue on June 28 at Boronia Park Hunters Hill;
- NSWJRU II U18 v GPS III White on June 28 at Boronia Park Hunters Hill.
This showdown will decide the final make-up of the NSWJRU I side who will compete in the Rugby Au U18 Division 2 Nationals on the Gold Coast in July.
But for now the boys next challenge leading in to the all-important trial day is playing the City versus Country game on June 11 at Concord Oval as well as taking on the NSW Combined High Schools U18’s at Warnervale on June 17.
Meanwhile 17-year-old Beau Merrick – who also played for the Hunter Wildfires alongside Vaughan and Duff – has progressed from the squad to the NSW Country Colts U19’s side.
This is a senior representative pathway and Vaughan also gained selection in this squad but withdrew due to his study and junior rep commitments.
Earlier:
It’s shaping up to be a bountiful representative season for young bulls Beau Merrick, Alex Vaughan and Jayden Duff.
The talented trio who are technically juniors have been signed off to play for the senior club this season and the step up in class is paying off.
With 17-year-old forwards Merrick and Vaughan recently learning of their selection in the NSW Country Cockatoos Colts 2018 Training Squad.
This is a senior representative pathway and an unexpected bonus for the duo who were among the youngest players in Newcaslte/Hunter Colts U19’s side that ended being crowned country champions in Warren on April 28 and 29.
“They were ready for it,” says their club coach and former Wallaby Steve Merrick who also happens to be Beau’s dad. “Vaughan was really good.”
But when asked how his son went Merrick simply replied “he did his job”, with a smile.
However on the weekend Merrick and Vaughan joined 16-year-old Duff at the NSW Junior Rugby Country Championships at Ourimbah on the Central Coast.
Where the trio played their part in the Open Hunter Wildfires team taking out the champs. And, from 138 players, Vaughan and half back Duff were included in the 30 player NSW Country Open Junior Rugby Cockatoos Squad.