RUGBY UNION
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SAINT Stanislaus’ College has further enhanced its reputation as one of the state’s leading rugby union nurseries after Josh Hardie and Jack Veitch were recently named in the NSW Schools rugby side.
Hardie and Veitch attended trials last month and were recently notified that they had made the state’s All Schools under 16s squad of 23, putting them in some elite company for the upcoming NSW Under 16s Invitational Tournament.
The talented backs have been making an impact for the school across both the Independent Schools Association competition and the Waratah Shield. Their efforts have not gone unnoticed.
“We had trials at Knox Grammar School and then a couple of weeks after that they announced the side,” Hardie said.
“Our first matches will be over the October long weekend, but nothing is official yet with the times. That’s when we’ll be playing our matches at TG Milner [Oval, in Marsfield].”
The All Schools event acts as the top under 16s competition in the state and a good chance for players to make an impression before stepping up to under 18s level.
The two will line up against the NSW Country and Sydney teams at the home ground of the Eastwood Rugby Union Club.
Both boys were excited to learn of their selection.
“I was pretty stoked about it,” Hardie said.
“It was a good feeling all-round,” Veitch added.
The pair believe their own game has benefited from gaining their place among the state’s best.
“Getting selected just makes you play better I think. Your form just always seems to go up,” Veitch said.
“It’s all going pretty good for me at the moment. I feel like I’m carrying through a bit of form now so I’m happy with how I’m playing,” Hardie added.
Veitch will be eyeing off the starting outside centre position while five-eighth Hardie will be hoping to make his impact on the halves.
It now marks a second year running that Saints Stanislaus’ have managed to get two players into the same NSW representative side.
The pair follow in footsteps of Josh Oxley and James Donato, who played in the same age group for the state last year.