Pocock returns to field for junior Blue Boars

There was a cute bit of commotion at the Narrabri Rugby Club when former Wallabies Flanker David Pocock turned up for a Thursday night practice session.

After the warm-up, the Under Sixes team put Mr Pocock to work with tackling drills and took no prisoners.

The Australian rugby union player from Gweru, Zimbabwe origins was excited to make it down to Dangar Park field and watch the next generation of players show him what they’ve got.

“I grew up half an hour outside of a small town, which is where I started playing my junior rugby as a seven- to eight-year-old and it taught me so much,” said Mr Pocock.

“It gave me amazing opportunities in life, playing professional rugby and representing my country.

“Some of those six-year-olds have some good leg drive, they are very determined.”

Alongside his extensive rugby union career, Mr Pocock studied for a master’s degree in Sustainable Agriculture from Charles Sturt University and assumed office as the Senator for the Australian Capital Territory.

While he is a passionate conservationist, Mr Pocock is also a strong advocate for the skills that the game of rugby union and all sports can teach kids, and transfer on and off the field.

“After finishing professional rugby, I used to joke with my wife that I’d spent thousands of hours on a rugby field trying to perfect all these skills that were then useless in the rest of my life, but you realise there are so many skills that are transferable,” said Mr Pocock.

“Kids get to learn teamwork, work ethic, being a part of a team and taking feedback on board.

“From the age of six like these kids, you’re taking feedback onboard, and being coached – being coachable is such a huge asset in life, it’s underrated.”

Mr Pocock was also impressed to see strong representation for the girls on the field, with the Under Six team being a 50/50 split of boys and girls.

“It’s been so great to see women’s sport change in my time playing rugby.

“When I started playing rugby as a kid no girls were playing and now, they are taking over the world.”

And for any budding sporting champions wanting to pursue a career in rugby, he also had a bit of wisdom to share.

“Enjoy it. The love of the game has to come first, and if you’re enjoying it, you will put in the work,” said Mr Pocock.

“Then, set some goals and work hard, but enjoyment is the number one thing.”