When junior rugby union players came from across the State to flaunt their talents to State Country selectors, it was the Maitland and Singleton players who delivered the goods.
Maitland has again been richly represented in this year’s round of NSW Country Junior Rugby Union teams.
The Maitland Blacks have added to a long history of producing junior talent, spawning 12 players from under-15s to 17s in the final Country teams.
Hunter Valley Grammar School students Chris Edwards (under-18s), Michael Howell (under-17s), James Johnston (under-17s) and Chris Farmer (under-16s) all persuaded their relevant selection panels they were Country rugby material.
Edwards, the Hunter Valley Grammar School captain, was accepted into both the under-18s and the Colts teams.
The Singleton Bulls hooker has played just two club matches this year, including pre-season games, due to a hectic representative training and game schedule.
These boys’ parents might see their sons selections as a series of weekends on the road, attending training camps and carnivals. But for them, the chance to wear the iconic black and gold Country jersey means a lot more.
“We get a lot of opportunities through playing for Country,” Johnston said.
“We get to travel to the Gold Coast to play this season and get an opportunity to try out for the NSW State team.
“I would love to go further with rugby if I could.”
Country selection, even at the junior level, can be a harrowing ordeal, with Farmer’s selection coming after a greulling weekend training camp in Casino.
But Country coach Chris Coleman said his inclusion was a no-brainer for selectors.
“Chris just stood out right throughout the selection weekend, he was the obvious choice for number eight,” Coleman said.
Other NSW Junior Country Rugby Union selections from the Maitland Blacks were:
Under 15s: Chris Barbeau, Michael Buckley, Alex Tupou.
Under 16s: Chris Farmer
Under 17s: Liam Kearney, Reece Watson.
Under 18s: Randal Parmenter, John Birrel, Jack Howard, Tom Atkinson.