Narrabri rugby union sensation Joey Fowler is going from strength to strength, and his return to the NSW Waratahs in 2024 reached an exciting new peak last week when he travelled to Japan with the senior squad.
The 19-year-old recently enjoyed a successful under-19s campaign with the franchise alongside fellow junior Blue Boars teammate Sid Harvey, in which the five-eighth was named in the team of the week twice out of four possible occasions.
Waratahs Media reported last week that Fowler and fellow under-19s player Eamon Doyle, who are two of a growing pool of top talent in the NSW Waratahs Academy, have impressed during pre-season training with the NSW Waratahs senior squad that is preparing for the 2025 Super Rugby Pacifica competition that will start in February.
As a result, the two 19-year-olds were selected for the 25-man NSW Waratahs squad to play against the Kubota Spears at Edogawa Stadium in Tokyo on Friday.
The team’s new head coach Dan McKellar said that the selections of Fowler and Doyle were well-earned ones.
“They’ve obviously come through the academy and have performed well for New South Wales under-19s this year and in pre-season training with us,” McKellar told Waratahs Media in the lead-up to the match.
“While this isn’t a capped game, it is a great chance for them to experience wearing the New South Wales jersey and in an international environment.”
In their first game under McKellar, the Waratahs registered a dominant 43-17 victory after they outscored the Japanese side seven tries to three. Lukas Ripley crossed for two tries for the visitors and Teddy Wilson, Archie Saunders, James Hendren, Triston Reilly and Joey Walton all scored one each. Jack Bowen kicked three of his four conversions and Fowler nailed one of his three.
The travelling side arrived home on Sunday and were back into training on Tuesday to continue preparations for the 2025 Super Rugby Pacifica competition.
The Waratahs, who placed last in the 2024 season, kick off their season at home on Friday, February 14, with an opening-round fixture against the Highlanders at Allianz Stadium.
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