Bull Sharks coaches, players earn rep honours

THE Bull Sharks have received a major boost ahead of the 2023 premiership with a host of rugby club players and coaches earning early season representative honours.

Prop Harrison Usher was named in the Junior Wallabies squad for the upcoming World Cup in South Africa, his call-up coming hot on the heels of teammate Hayden Sargeant’s who flew to LA on Monday with the Aussie 7s squad.

Closer to home powerhouse lock Jake Upfield will earn his first Queensland Reds cap in Saturday’s Super Rugby season opener against the Hurricanes at Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Townsville. And it wasn’t just the players who have earned the opportunity to progress their careers at the higher level with coaching coordinator and first-grade coach Grant Anderson selected to coach the Reds A side.

Anderson has spent the week with the Reds at Ballymore and will call the shots for the Reds A side against Wests on Saturday in Toowoomba.

For Upfield selection in his first Super Rugby game comes off the back of a post-season tour of Japan with the Reds.

Usher, a 2021 Sports Leadership Scholarship holder, will join the 40man Junior Wallabies squad from Sunday at their Australian Institute of Sport training camp in Canberra.

The Junior Wallabies are drawn to face Fiji, Ireland and England in the pool stage of the Championship, which kicks off on 24 June.

Australian coach Nathan Grey said it was exciting to name such a strong squad. “Many of the young players selected showcased their skills at the National U19 Championships late last year, while others have been named on the back of a strong preseason period for their clubs,” he said.

Bond’s director of Rugby Luca Liussi said the club’s ambition was to be a pathway for players and coaches to reach the highest level.

“This week has been a significant one for our club because we have been able to demonstrate that we provide a daily training environment that helps players and coaches to progress their careers,” he said.

“It is also especially pleasing to see that we are preparing players for both 15-aside and 7s rugby.

“Hayden, Harrison and Jake are all talented footballers, but they have had to work hard to make these teams and through their selections Grant’s record in developing players is also being recognised.’’