Te Awamutu Sports midfielder inks Brumbies deal

Te Awamutu Sports midfielder Austin Anderson has signed with Canberra-based Super Rugby franchise the ACT Brumbies, taking the field for their Under 19 side last weekend in the National Under 16 and Under 19 Rugby Championships.

The tournament started on October 9 and finishes on November 13, showcasing promising young rugby talent from the Australian Super Rugby Pacific clubs.

Anderson played in Waikato’s NPC pre-season campaign alongside Te

Awamutu teammates Taha Kemara, Cody Nordstrom, Sean Ralph and Latrell Smiler-Ah Kiong.

Te Awamutu Sports head coach Travis Church said, “We wish Austin all the success he deserves, he is definitely one of the hardest-working young athletes I have met, he is always willing to improve his game and is a real leader on and off the field.

“Austin grew up in Perth and attended Aranmore Catholic College, making the Australian age grade rugby league sides as well as Western Force age group sides before moving to Rotorua Boys’ High School then on to Hamilton Boys’ High School whilst still contracted to the North Queensland Cowboys league club.

“He cemented the inside centre spot in the FirstXVat HBHS and really worked well with Taha Kemara and Aki Tuivailala, going on to make Chiefs 18s and NZ Schools.

“He is one talented young man, we look forward to the Super Rugby experience he will bring back to our lads at TA in the off season. This is massive for our community, it shows our little club and town can represent on the big stage.”

In 2021, he was part of the Hamilton Boys’ High School 1st XV that won the Super 8 final for the 14th time since 2006.

Alongside Kemara and Ralph, he was part of a record six HBHS 1st XV players named in the 2021 New Zealand Secondary Schools rugby team.

Anderson is also a former Kiwis 18s and New Zealand 18s Schools rugby league representative as well as representingNZMāori and local sides.