From west to the world
RUGBY UNION: After spending the year plying his trade in Western Australia, Warwick's Will Dearden has been rewarded for his efforts, earning selection in the U20s Junior Wallbies squad.
Former Warwick Water Rats player Dearden was one of 53 players named, which will take the side forward into their Oceania Rugby U20s and World Rugby U20s championships.
Dearden said he was overjoyed when he discovered the news.
"I was pretty stoked when I got the call that I was in the squad,” Dearden said.
"It's humbling to get into a position like this.
"There is still a bit of work to do between now and then when the final squad is chosen.
"I'm going to go my hardest to try and do what the coaches are looking for at the training camp.
"I head to Canberra day where we have a five-day camp at the AIS.”
Dearden spent the year playing in Perth with the Future Force Foundation, and said he was buoyed to be joined by team-mates in the squad.
"I played with three players in the Future Force Foundation also chosen in the squad,” he said.
"I had a good year over there and loved it.
"It's a really good lifestyle there, and it's a shame what happened.”
Dearden said he had been training in Brisbane with the Queensland Reds academy, which he will continue to do next year, and hopes to make the progressions on to playing at the Super Rugby level.
