Sydney University Football Club Colts player, Sam Hayward, is representing Canada at the Junior World Rugby Trophy (JWRT) held in Hong Kong this month. The JWRT is the main event for Tier Two Nations, with the winner each year being promoted to the Junior World Cup. Canada entered the tournament as number two seed.
Sam, aged 19, played Colts at SUFC for 3 seasons, starting as a 16 year old and is a Sydney Uni Juniors’ product.
Sam re- located to Canada in December last year to try and win a spot on the Canadian team, for which he is eligible through family lineage. Based at the Canada Rugby Centre of Excellence in Langford, British Colombia, Sam has spent the past few months training and trialling with the Canada Under 20s squad, and commented that the very high level of strength and conditioning required at SUFC was great preparation.
Starting at outside centre in Canada’s pre-tournament trials, Sam was named in the number 13 jersey for the first JWRT game against Namibia.
The Canadians prepared for the JWRT with a tour of England in March playing the Academy Squads of Leicester Tigers, Sale Sharks and Leeds Carnegie and playing at these Premier clubs grounds.
Canada’s coaches for the Under 20’s include former Leeds Legend Mike Shelley and former All Black Kieran Crowley.
As an interesting side note; former Sydney Uni first grade coach Bill Millard is Head Coach of the USA under 20 team.
On behalf of all at SUFC, we congratulate Sam on this achievement and wish him all the best in the upcoming games. We look forward to hearing from him soon!