Future bright for junior

A rising rugby superstar is preparing for another action-packed season this year.

Harvey boy Christian Huey plays in the Beasts Elite State Squad, South West Spirits Rugby Union side and Bunbury Bulls junior rugby team.

The 13-year-old said he loved the physicality of the sport.

“I started playing when I was six years old, but I played in the division above so I would be allowed to tackle,” Christian said.

Christian said the aim of the game was to run the ball past the opponents and score a try.

He said there was a lot of accelerating, changing direction, catching, passing and tackling.

The Our Lady of Mercy Australind student said he was a defensive player who played best on the wing.

Christian last year competed in the Armidale School Rugby Carnival in NSW, the biggest under 12s carnival in Australia that attracted more than 1000 young rugby players. His team performed well throughout the competition and finished fourth, ahead of another 47 teams from around the country.

Christian’s younger brother Saul is also following in his footsteps, preparing to compete in the Armidale School Rugby Carnival this year.

Along with travelling to NSW, Christian was also selected to play in the Gold Coast Rugby Exchange last October. However, he did not perform as well as he had hoped, and is hoping to give it another crack this year.

Christian said his love of the sport came from his dad, Matt, who used to play rugby in NSW.

Matt said he was immensely proud of his son’s ability to read the play.

“Christian is committed to tackling and has a great defensive ability. I can ask him what he sees from the sidelines and he will tell me what the other team is about to do,” he said.

Mr Huey also said the best thing about rugby was the team aspect and discipline.

“There are no superstars, they all have to play as a team to score. There is also a lot of respect, any backchat to the referees and the players are sent off,” Mr Huey said.

Christian said it could sometimes be hard playing rugby in a community where AFL is so prominent, however, he encouraged others to give it a go.

“Not many people play rugby in WA, but it really is a fun sport,” he said.

Christian’s goal is to play in the Super Rugby competition for the Wallabies one day.