Year 11 student Rudi Schwartz is one of 33 players selected in the NSW Country Rugby training squad. The squad will attend a training camp this weekend at Lake Keepit, Gunnedah.
The training camp will see the squad cut to 23 players plus a number of shadow players before competing in Sydney on 27 and 28 June against several School Association teams. The squad will then follow this up with a City versus Country match in Bathurst on 28 July.
Rudi, who has been playing rugby since the age of five, said the Under 18 Country Rugby team trials were held in Singleton on 5 May, where 100 other players vied for a spot on the team.
“We will be playing the School Association Teams and the NSW City Team. After the City versus Country game, there will be a NSW juniors team selected from the performance in the game between the two teams,” Rudi said.
Rudi said his passion for playing rugby started while growing up in a South African home and watching rugby on the television every weekend.
As well as playing for Scots All Saints First XI team, Rudi has played for the Bathurst Bulldogs, Forbes Platypi and Central West Rugby Union.
Along with school work, Rudi’s week is jam-packed with cramming as much rugby training as he can.
“I am training every day, going to the gym every morning Monday to Thursday and then rugby training with school every Tuesday and Thursday. I also individually do a kicking session on the Monday and sprint training on the Wednesday.”
Rudi also plays for Scots All Saints every Saturday for the First XI team and rep footy on Sunday with Central West. Not content with that, Rudi also plays and trains with the Forbes Platypi during school holiday breaks.
Rudi said he is super excited about getting the chance to play against quality opposition.
“I am extremely excited about my NSW Country training squad selection, and I am looking forward to seeing where this can take me. I am also looking forward to being able to play against top-quality opposition and some very talented players.”
Rudi said that the training squad selection is one step closer towards his dream coming true of playing rugby professionally at the top level.
