Four players from The Armidale School (TAS) have been selected in the top two NSW Schools teams for next week’s Australian Schools Rugby Championships, with centre Oscar Saunders earning a surprise call-up to the NSW I side.
Saunders said he never expected to make the state’s premier schoolboy team after representing the Athletic Association of Great Public Schools (AAGPS) Seconds at last week’s NSW Schools Championships in Sydney.
Having played in the AAGPS Thirds at last year’s state titles, the Year 12 student said his goal this year was simply to enjoy the opportunity.
“I was not even thinking about making the NSW schools. I was just thinking, the GPS is a really good team to be a part of, lots of fun, I’ll just enjoy this while I can. I saw the standard of NSW Schools teams from GPS last year and know how high it is,” he said.
Initially named in NSW II, Saunders was later elevated to the NSW I squad.
“When they announced the teams I was originally named in NSW Schools Two but then got called up for the Ones. And that was quite a shock coming from GPS Twos. It is a little nerve wracking, playing against and soon with, all these high-performing players that I have looked up to and watched play online through the past two seasons.”
Saunders impressed selectors during the championships, setting up a try against Independent Schools Association I before scoring in his second match against Sydney Under 18s.
College earlier this month.
He is one of four members of the TAS First XV selected in the top two NSW Schools teams.
Henry Armstrong (prop/hooker, Armidale), Fred Glover (forward, Armidale) and Sinclair Little (prop, Walcha) have all been named in the NSW II squad. Although all three were initially selected in the AAGPS Third XV, Glover and Little earned game time with the AAGPS First XV, strengthening their claims for state selection.
TAS has the equal third-highest representation in the top two NSW Schools teams of any GPS school, alongside St Joseph’s College, behind only St Ignatius’ College Riverview and Newington College.
Saunders said the selections reflected the commitment of the TAS rugby program.
“It’s good for us to show this year that we’re at the same level and been selected for the NSW teams. It shows that we can put in the effort, and we really want to try and push ourselves. Our coaches have also pushed us to work hard, and try and chase our dreams, because I think most of the boys want to go further with rugby after school.”
The representative honour has also prompted Saunders to reconsider plans to take a break from rugby after school, with several metropolitan clubs already expressing interest.
“It has opened my eyes to a future with the sport; it’s given me an idea that I can hopefully have a bit of a future with rugby. So, I’m just looking forward to that.”
TAS head of rugby Harry Rorke said the selections were a fitting reward for players who had consistently put in the work behind the scenes without any sense of entitlement or expectation.
“They’ve embraced the early mornings, the gym sessions, the extra skills work, and all the little things that often go unnoticed. It’s fantastic to see that commitment recognised at the next level”, he said.
“It’s a great achievement not only for the boys themselves, but also a testament to the entire opens playing group, they have pushed each other and upheld high standards throughout the season.”
The Australian Schools Rugby Championships will be held next week at Sunshine Coast Stadium, featuring three NSW teams, two from Queensland and one each from Victoria, South Australia and the ACT.
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