James Bourchier is hoping the NSW Gold team he has been named in is the first of many state and high-level representative teams he will make.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
After being a standout player in the Western NSW squad, which took part in the recent Junior Gold Cup, St John's student Bourchier has been selected in the NSW Gold under-15s side.
More than 250 juniors took part in the Gold Cup but Bourchier was deemed one of the 23 best players in NSW and will now play in a match against the Queensland under-15s early next month.
"It's unbelievable, I've made Central West teams before but never made it this far, it's unreal," he said.
"It was hard to believe at first."
Michael Dodd has been a long-time coach of Bourchier at a local level and he said it was no surprise a player who gave 100% every match had gone on to achieve such high honours.
"It is a pretty impressive achievement considering he's a country kid from western NSW going up against kids who play in Sydney and train three or four times a week and never have to travel more than half an hour to play," he said.
"It's a lot more difficult for boys out here and they have to travel five or six hours for a game and train once a week is a big achievement and well done to him.
Dodd said there were a number of things which made the young hooker stand out.
"His attitude towards the game, his fitness levels and aggression and his knowledge of the game. He tries his best all the time and it's paid off," he said.
The talented youngster from Tomingley has been selected as a hooker and the fact that was not his natural position makes his achievement all the more impressive.
For the majority of his junior career Bourchier played as a number eight but since making the move to hooker in recent times his game has gone to another level.
"I got recommended by a few people to go up and play hooker from number eight and looks like it's been the right choice," he admitted.
Dodd said it was all down to the fact his teenage body was changing and becoming more suited to the role of hooker.
"He had a position change designed to his changing body and that's probably where this has come from, trying to get him into a position which suited his body as he grows older," he said.
Bourchier wasn't the only player from Western to make a NSW side with Cowra-based Kinross Woloroi students Fraser Robertson and Tom Cummins making the under-15s and under-17s sides respectively and Parkes' Ben Davis also making the 15s side.
"I'm a bit nervous right now, that's for sure, but it will be an awesome experience," Bourchier admitted in the lead up to the April 4 match at Ballymore against Queensland.
"I'm pumped and ready."
With his career going from strength to strength Bourchier admitted the dream of playing at the highest level is what drives him.
When asked how far he wants to take his rugby, the youngster's reply was simple.
"As far as it will let me go," he said.