Representing your country is the pinnacle for any player in any sport and for so many it's an ambition that will never come to fruition, so you can guarantee none of the Central West side that gets to do just that in Japan this month will take the opportunity for granted.
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The Blue Bulls' under-12 side will live out that dream of representing Austalia at the 2019 Kids' Rugby World Cup in Japan, they fly out next Wednesday to join sides from the host nation, New Zealand, England, Scotland, Italy and Indonesia, among others, in a massive celebration of grassroots rugby.
The tournament, which is as much about the coming together of different cultures as the rugby itself, is the latest of a number of junior events Japan has hosted in the lead-up to this year's Rugby World Cup, which kicks off in September.
"It's amazing, it's a massive opportunity for everyone involved, the players, the coaches, the families, everyone. Once-in-a-lifetime really," Central West co-coach Rob Nixon said.
It's amazing, it's a massive opportunity for everyone involved ... once-in-a-lifetime.
- Central West co-coach Rob Nixon
"The last three years in the build-up to the World Cup Japan have been hosting this type of event (and) we're very lucky, very fortunate to have been selected by the powers that be to represent Australia.
"We're the only side from Australia going and it's a real privilege."
The 16-strong Central West squad boasts guns from a plethora of the region's clubs, including Orange City's Hayden Buesnel and Tama Nixon, and Orange Emus trio Will Cornish, Jack Garlick and Daniel Vaotangi.
"It's a good mix of clubs and players in this side, Bulldogs, Canowindra, Mudgee, Emus, you know, it's good to such good representation across the whole region," Nixon said.
"It's more about the coming together of cultures in celebration of rugby than anything else, it'll be great experience for the kids and it's a great chance for them to enjoy their rugby in another country."
Nixon says the week-long trip will also serve the side well ahead of next month's NSW Country Junior Rugby Union Championship at because, in his words, "there's no better way to bring a team together than a trip like this".
Although, he did admit it's caused some disruption too with the side was forced to pull out of a trial, but considering the opportunity they've got that's not a particularly big worry.
"We do have to prepare differently as well, with different dynamics in this trip compared to the country championships but these kids are straight out of Wallas too, so there's no better way to give them a taste of rugby," Nixon said.
For the Nixon family the trip is particularly significant, too.
"My boy Tama is in the Central West side but my nephew Ngakau (Nixon) is actually representing New Zealand's side as well, so it a bit of an honour for our entire family," Nixon said.
"Christchurch (Football) Club was chosen to represent New Zealand, Ngakau doesn't actually play for them, he plays against them, but the coach gave him an invitation to go and play with them in Japan.
"It'll be really great for the boys to be able to do that together."
- CENTRAL WEST: Rex Bassingthwaite, Dom Jarrett, Hugh Mitchell, Hugo O'Mally (Dubbo Kangaroos), Hayden Buesnel, Tama Nixon (Orange City Lions), Oscar Cleary (Canowindra Pythons), Bede Clout (Wellington Redbacks), Ollie Gaden, Rolleston Smith (Mudgee Wombats), Will Cornish, Jack Garlick, Daniel Vaotangi (Orange Emus), Thomas McIntosh (Bathurst Bulldogs), Will Moxey, Oliver Walker (Forbes Platypi)
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Matt Findlay
Formerly a sports specialist, I'm based at Orange and shift between wide-spread range of subjects here and, often, across the entire Central West region of NSW as well. I have almost a decade of experience in the media and marketing industries both here in Australia and internationally, along with journalism I have experience in content strategy, brand development, and digital and social media. Along the way, I've been fortunate to win a handful of media awards and be nominated for several others too.
Formerly a sports specialist, I'm based at Orange and shift between wide-spread range of subjects here and, often, across the entire Central West region of NSW as well. I have almost a decade of experience in the media and marketing industries both here in Australia and internationally, along with journalism I have experience in content strategy, brand development, and digital and social media. Along the way, I've been fortunate to win a handful of media awards and be nominated for several others too.
