Bernard O’Connor’s NSW under-18s team crowned Australian champions

Narrabri Junior Rugby Club gun Bernard O’Connor proudly became an Australian champion last week when his NSW team won the final at the 49th Australian Schools Rugby Championships.

The event was held from Monday, July 3, to Thursday, July 6, at Eric Tweedale Stadium in Granville Park, Sydney, the home to the Two Blues Rugby Union Club.

Bernard, the son of Craig and Michelle O’Connor, was part of the NSW Under-18s Juniors side, which he was selected for after impressive at the 2023 State and Country Champs.

They played games on Monday and Tuesday, both of which they won, and that saw them progress to Thursday’s final following Wednesday’s rest day.

On the Monday, they challenged NSW Schools One and scored a 32-17, then on the Tuesday, they went up against the NSW Barbarians on a wet and windy day and won 17-0.

The final on Thursday saw the NSW 8s Juniors take on Queensland Twos, and the NSW boys well and truly rose to the occasion as they won 42-15.

Matches at the Australian Schools Rugby Championships event were 64 minutes in length, and Bernard played a 32-minute half at scrumhalf in each of the three games.

The NSW Under-18s Juniors following their win.

The 17-year-old enjoyed his time playing for the NSW under-18s side at the prestigious event.

“It was such a good week, and I think I played pretty well,” he said.

“The time with the boys was the best part of it. The environment there was good too, and winning it was unreal. The schools sides are supposed to win it. It’s the first time we’ve ever won it.

“It’s a surreal feeling really, to be an Australian champion.”

Next up for Bernard is the City v Country under-18s clash in Maitland on Sunday, July 23. He will play for Country in that match alongside his cousin, Sid Harvey, and their fellow teammates.

The 2023 North West Regional Youth Rugby Friday night under-18s comp is in a holiday break, but Bernard and his junior Blue Boars teammates are pumped to get back into it later this month.

They are ranked second place on the ladder following five victories from seven matches and they have scored the most points of any team in the competition.

They went down 13-12 against the top-ranked side Farrer in their most recent outing, but are just five points behind them and are determined to get above them come the end of the season.