WHILE some of their teammates have headed overseas for post-premiership holidays, a trio of Dubbo Kangaroos stars remain in training ahead of an overseas adventure of their own.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Centre Filisione Pauta, five-eighth Scott Burgess and hooker Peter Nau are all part of the 26-man Country Cockatoos squad that will undertake a development tour of the United States.
The squad jets out later this month and will spend 16 days overseas, with their four matches being played over an eight-day period.
While Nau and Pauta are no strangers to playing football in different countries, the same can't be said for Burgess.
"I've never been out of the country before so I'm really looking forward to it," the Roos' point-scoring machine said.
"It will be something new for me from a rugby perspective but also just to go out of Australia and see what the American culture is like.
"From all reports these kinds of tours don't come around too often so it's a big deal to be involved and I'm glad that Pete and Filise will be on the trip as well."
The 26 players involved in the tour comprise of 17 capped Cockatoos, four Cockatoos colts and five uncapped senior players who represented their zones at this year's Country Championships.
They will be joined by nine officials on the tour, according to NSW Country Rugby Union president Barry Ruddy.
"The tour is a very important part of the union's program, which continues to provide a quality representative pathway for Country-based players, officials, coaches and support staff," he said.
"The intention is for a tour of this nature to be undertaken every four years, which would provide players with something to strive and aim for."
Parkes trio Dan Ryan, Amoni Vea and Mahe Fangupo will also take part in the tour, which has ensured the Dubbo players have remained in training long after their premiership win over Orange Emus.
"We've been doing a bit of training together and spending some time at the gym," Burgess said.
"It will probably work out well because we will be in pretty good shape when it comes time to start getting ready for next year."
After a stellar maiden year with the Kangaroos, the former Narromine Gorilla said he will be remaining with the premiers in 2015.
"The Roos were great to me when I joined from Narromine," Burgess said.
"We had a great year and I think the move has done me a lot of favours so I'm more than happy to be at the club next year as well, and hopefully we can go back-to-back."
NSW COUNTRY: Peter Nau (Dubbo Kangaroos), Scott Burgess (Dubbo Kangaroos), Filisione Pauta (Dubbo Kangaroos), Ollie Bartlett (St Alberts College), Ben Damen (Wollongbar Alstonville), Jake Douglas (Tamworth), Mahe Fangupo (Parkes), Ben Greentree (Camden), Andre Itula (Avondale), Matt King (Ourimbah), Steve Lamont (Hamilton), Matt Lee (Woonoona), Mark Minter (Camden), Steve Mison (Wollongbar Alstonville), MacKeenzie Rae (Merewether Carlton), Robert Richardson (Terrigal), Lee Russell (Camden), Dan Ryan (Parkes), Bradd Sheridan (Ourimbah), Eli Sinoti (Avondale), Josh Stewart (Tamworth), Joe Taylor (Terrigal), Paul Tuala (Wollongong Uni), Amoni Vea (Parkes), Blake Walsh (Newcastle Wanderers), Benn Wright (Lennox Head)