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Sydney Catholic Schools

NSW Rugby partnership uncovers tomorrow’s stars

Sydney Catholic Schools has partnered with NSW Rugby to discover the next generation of Australian rugby sevens representatives.

As part of this commitment, Sydney Catholic Schools (SCS) recently ran a NSW Rugby 7s Academy Camp in conjunction with Rugby NSW.

NSW Rugby 7s Academy Camp, run by Sydney Catholic Schools in conjunction with Rugby NSW

“I am very confident that we have just seen future Olympians hidden in the form of school students,” Damien Kerr, Manager of Sport at SCS, said. 

The two-day, invitation-only camp featured guest appearances from Australian rugby legends Ned Hanigan and Charlotte Caslick.

“There’s a lot of talent here,” Senior Manager of NSW Rugby, Michael Doyle, added.

“The Academy Camp and partnership with NSW Rugby has been instrumental in the development of talent identified athletes and will guide them towards future success” – Damien Kerr 

‘They are all really good sponges’

A select 64 students from Year 5 to 11 put their best boot forward in strength and conditioning at the 2022 NSW Rugby 7s Academy Camp, followed by speed and fitness testing. 

A male athlete at the NSW Rugby 7s Academy Camp, run by Sydney Catholic Schools in conjunction with Rugby NSW

“They are all really good sponges and learn very quickly,” SCS staff member, Noah Ta’ale, commented.

Students heard an inspiring opening address from homegrown talent, Ned Hanigen, who made the transition from Catholic Primary Schools athlete to being an Australian Wallabies player.

And they set a benchmark for their individual ability to be revisited at a potential follow-up Academy Camp. 

Lifelong sporting connections were forged along the way. 

“I am very confident that we have future Olympians hidden in the form …

August 15, 2022|
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Rugby 7s Academy Camp uncovers ‘diamond in the rough’

Could Samara Leven be the diamond in the rough NSW Rugby is looking for?

After her performance at the 2022 NSW Rugby 7s Academy Camp, both Sydney Catholic Schools (SCS) and NSW Rugby are excited about Samara Leven’s promising future in the sport.

“She looks as though she has the right passion and talent equilibrium,” Damien Kerr, the Manager of Sport at SCS, said. 

Senior Manager of NSW Rugby, Michael Doyle, further remarked that he was currently looking for “that diamond in the rough.”

Pathway to success

Leven, who is in Year 11 student, was sponsored by Sydney Catholic Schools to travel to Sydney all the way from St Mary’s Catholic College in Casino to attend her first elite training camp, alongside 64 students from Year 5 to 11.

The two-day camp, run by SCS in partnership with NSW Rugby, included athletic testing with drills and skills, as well as game situation training. 

Leven entered the world of rugby via the boys Casino Bulls team at 12 years of age. “My brothers always played and I thought, ‘Okay, I’ll just train with the older boys’,” she explained. 

Samara Leven gets her shirt signed by rugby international Maddison Levi amara Leven gets her shirt signed by Maddison Levi.

It wasn’t until a couple of years later that she joined a girls’ side and received dispensation to play with both genders.

The NSW Rugby 7s Academy Camp has given Leven an opportunity for further recognition and to have her talents nurtured. The camp also provided her with an unbelievable opportunity to meet and greet her idol, Charlotte Caslick.

“Charlotte is my role model; she lets her game do the talking,” Leven said.

Leven …

August 15, 2022|
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