THREE of Dubbo's brightest rugby prospects will head to the nation's capital this weekend to represent NSW Country.
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James Bourchier and Charlie Spora have been selected in the NSW Country under-15s side while Kyle Gibson will line up for the under-16s side.
All three will take on the ACT Brumbies today at the University of Canberra before a clash with Sydney in the coming which will also act as a selection trial for the NSW team.
Doug Sandry, coach of Gibson's local under-16s side, was delighted to see his player and others achieve Country selection and said it was proof of central west's strength.
"It's great, we've been lucky to always get a few through to these teams and one usually gets through to the Country squad but to get three is terrific," he said.
"And we've got Nick Cushan in the 18s Country team too. He's away at university now but he did all his work here."
Following on from the under-14s match today, Bourchier and Spora will run out with the 15s.
Michael Dodd, who coaches the pair locally, believes it is a well deserved recognition for the pair and was confident they would excel.
"It's the opportunity of a lifetime and hopefully they can go on and make that next level and play for NSW," he said, before saying he thought they were capable of representing their state.
"Most definitely, they're two really good players and are both skillful, fit and strong.
"They're going from strength to strength and they seem to even play better in those teams where they're playing in a team of players at the similar level."
It continues a stellar 2015 for Bourchier, who earlier this year made the NSW Gold under-15s squad, while Spora is rewarded after starring for Central West at the recent State Championships at Mudgee.
Harry O'Leary was another Dubbo player who was named in the original 40-man Country squad in the 15s but despite performing well missed out on making the final 23.
There was also an unfortunate story from the 16s where Pat Berryman, a standout locally this season, was struck down by a virus during the trials and missed out on the chance to push his case.
That meant Gibson was the only Dubbo junior to make the Country 16s side, the latest in a number of accolades for the St John's student.
Gibson also represented NSW Gold as well as gaining selection in the NSW Combined Catholic Colleges side earlier this year.
"He's a terrific player," Sandry said of his versatile star.
"He's got incredible motor and goes all day. He puts in the hard work too and has been rewarded."
Gibson will pack down at flanker for NSW Country and Sandry has no doubts he has what it takes to star for that side and achieve NSW selection.
"He certainly has, size doesn't matter at flanker with guys like Michael Hooper and David Pocock playing, who aren't monsters, and Kyle is the same but he's strong, mobile, quick and fit so he sits the position perfectly," he said.
The under-15s take on the ACT at 11.25am today, followed by the under-16s at 12.45pm.