Congratulations to Zac von Appen who joins the Waratahs on a wider training squad contract graduated through St Augustine’s College and has made a big contribution to Sydney University’s run to the Shute Shield Grand Final.
Von Appen comes from a high-performance background after representing Australia in rowing at the U23 World Championships, while his father Mario von Appen won an Olympic gold medal as a kayaker with Germany at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games and his mother represented Australia at the World Championships, also as a kayaker.
“It’s a real privilege for me to join the Waratahs program, and something that I don’t take for granted,” von Appen said.
“During my time rowing, I would train twice a day, six times a week, and worked at a bottle shop to support myself.
“To be able to join the program on a full-time basis and dedicate myself to the team I’ve supported since I was a kid is incredibly special to myself and my family. I cannot wait to get stuck in.”