Hillgrove Cricket Club’s Rocco Eastwood has been awarded the 2026 Waratahs Ian Campbell Scholarship, open to Armidale and District Cricket Association players under 16.
The 15-year-old will be presented with his scholarship by President of The Tahs of Armidale, Andrew Davis, at an awards ceremony at Cricket House, Armidale Sportsground, on Sunday, 23 August.
The scholarship is named for former Waratahs Cricket Club stalwart Ian Campbell, who spent much of his time at the club nurturing young talent, helping players enhance their skills, respect the game and grow as responsible young adults.
Rocco was one of three finalists considered for the 2026 award, alongside East Armidale Cricket Club representatives Jacob Finlay and Jack Kenny.
A batter who also occasionally keeps wicket, Rocco played with Hillgrove’s second grade team in the ADCA senior competition through the 2025-26 season, winning the club’s Most Likely to Succeed and Best Performance awards. He led the batting aggregate for second grade and was named player of the match in the ADCA T20 second grade grand final.
He also played in the undefeated Central Northern under-15 Bradman Cup team, and at representative level for his regional association and a combined schools squad.
In his scholarship application, Rocco said his goals were simple.
“To get the most I possibly can get out of the game, and to go as far as I can through the pathways of the game,” he said.
“Just love to be able to perform consistently and help my team out to the best of my ability to win games.”
As part of the scholarship, Rocco will spend time training with Sydney Premier Cricket club Manly Warringah District Cricket Club, also known as the Waratahs, which Mr Davis said had strong development pathways and close ties to country cricket.
The scholarship provides $1,500 in the year of award and $500 in each of the following two years, which can go toward costs such as travel or cricket gear, as well as training opportunities.
Mr Davis said The Tahs would work with Rocco and his family to decide how best to apply the funds to support his cricketing journey.
Inaugural scholarship winner Brooke Moran used her funding to attend training and mentoring with Manly Warringah, and to help cover travel costs for the NSW Central Coast School Sport Australia Championships, before being selected in the NSW CHS under-15 team for the national championships in Perth, where she was named in the All Australian team.
Still only 15, Brooke has since debuted for Manly Warringah’s under-18 Brewer Shield team and been accepted into its Pathways Program.
Mr Davis said the club was proud of Brooke’s achievements, and looked forward to following both her career and Rocco’s in the years ahead.
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