Australian Schoolboys captain Will Harrison is the latest in a group of promising young players to commit to playing rugby in New South Wales.
In one of the most significant recruitments for the franchise, the 18-year-old today confirmed that he has signed a three-year contract with the NSW Waratahs, making him the youngest player to join the team.
NSW Rugby Elite Youth Development Manager Pat McCutcheon said Harrison is a player with immense potential who has been in the team’s sights for a while.
“Will has incredible rugby talent and is an all-round good young man, and someone who has shown tremendous professionalism in everything that he does. Our goal is to provide these young players with the environment in which they can develop their game and go on to play for the Waratahs and Australia,” McCutcheon said.
“He is very mature for his age and this has come through in his work ethic on the field and his character off the field.Harrison credits NSW’s strong development programme for his decision to continue his young career in the State.“Since joining the youth development programme, what I’ve learnt in this time has played a major role in my decision to commit to the NSW Waratahs,’ Harrison said.
“The programme is about more than just rugby development. We are introduced to an overall and holistic approach to the game, and that is important for us young players to see and realise that it takes more than just catching, passing and kicking a footy ball to be a professional player,” he said.
Harrison started playing rugby at Marcellin College in Randwick, where Wallabies Coach Michael Cheika went to school. A bad leg injury cut short his season with the Randwick Colts in early 2017 but following an extensive rehabilitation programme, he returned to his club side and went on to captain Australia in the Schoolboys Tri Series against New Zealand and Fiji later the same year.
He has since had an opportunity to train with the NSW Waratahs squad.
“Training with the Waratahs was surreal having players around me who I would like to play like when I am older. The integration of the Generation Blue programme sends a strong message to us young players that if you put in the hard work, the local talent is getting noticed.”
The NSW Waratahs will take on the Rebels in our only home pre-season trial of the year at Brookvale Oval on Thursday, 15 February.
