“SUPER SPECIAL”: Sid Harvey named Rugby Australia’s junior men’s player of the year award winner

Sid Harvey’s breakout year in the rugby union arena was cemented on Friday night when the Narrabri boy was named joint winner of Rugby Australia’s junior men’s player of the year award.

Sharing the award with his close mate and NSW Waratahs and Australian teammate Aden Ekanayake, the two young guns were recognised for their efforts and outstanding achievements with the Australian under-20s and men’s sevens teams.

Harvey also had a sensational season with the Waratahs in the Super Rugby Aus competition as the winger helped guide them to the inaugural title and was named in the team of the year.

At club level, he did not get much time on the park with Easts in the Shute Shield, but he did play several matches during their run to the final during the back-end of the campaign.

His impressive performances saw him named in the Australia A team to travel to Japan earlier this month, but a hamstring injury during a training session the day before the squad flew out ruled him out of that trip, which he said was disappointing but would be motivation for the next 12 months to ensure he remains in the frame for selection for that side.

Harvey was also nominated for another award on Friday night, which was the try of the year for a five-pointer against Fiji during the Hong Kong Sevens tournament, but that award went to Max Jorgensen for his extra-time match-winner against England.

Harvey told The Courier that he was honoured to receive the junior player of the year award at Rugby Australia’s night of nights in Sydney.

“Mum came down with me as my plus one, and she looked beautiful. She was very happy to be there,” Harvey said.

“I was on a table with a lot of the sevens boys that I played with this year. It was really nice to see them and be around them once more.

“It was an awesome night.

“Being nominated for that award was a massive honour in itself. Representing the crop of players we have in our age group at the moment was really special.

“To be named dual winners with Aden, one of my great mates, that was pretty cool. We’ve got to share the field for sevens and 20s for Australia together this year.

“Mum was in tears when our names were read out, and I gave her a big hug.

“It was a nice reward for a really cool year. It’s super special to have won that award.”

Harvey is currently back home in Narrabri and will continue to rehab his hamstring before he links back up with the NSW Waratahs next month for pre-season.

The Narrabri boy is part of the wider training squad for the 2025 Super Rugby campaign, but is well aware that he has some of the country’s best players in front of him in the Waratahs’ backline.