Narrabri duo eyeing off World Championships following South Africa tournament success

Narrabri boys Sid Harvey and Joey Fowler helped guide the Australian under-20 rugby side to an undefeated finish at the 2025 The Rugby Championship U20 tournament in South Africa this month.

The tournament wrapped up on Saturday when the Aussies took down Argentina 40-36 after they had drawn their first game 29-all against New Zealand on May 1 and won their second game 29-24 against South Africa on May 7.

New Zealand won their other matches 75-21 against Argentina and 48-45 against South Africa to also finish undefeated, and an extra bonus point saw the New Zealanders finish on top of the table as Australia was forced to settle for second.

That was Australia’s best result at the event after they finished last at the inaugural tournament on the Sunshine Coast in 2024.

The Rugby Championship U20 matches were all played at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa, and the Aussies’ first game was a special one for the two Narrabri boys.

The sons of Denis and Carmel Harvey and Chris and Amanda Fowler have now teamed up at club, state and national level.

It continued an incredible journey for the junior Blue Boars teammates, who had helped guide Narrabri Junior Rugby Club’s under-14s side to the 2018 NWRYR premiership with a 28-15 victory against Armidale at Ken Chillingworth Oval more than six years ago, and then teamed up again for the NSW Waratahs’ under-19s side last year in the 2024 Super Rugby Under-19 Tournament.

Sid and Joey both started the first game of the tournament against New Zealand as Harvey lined up on the wing in the number 11 jersey and Fowler started at five-eighth in the number 10 jersey.

The script could not have been written any more perfectly for the duo as they combined for Australia’s second try of the day, with Fowler throwing a superb cutout pass that Harvey charged onto before diving over into the corner to break a 5-all deadlock in the 28th minute. Harvey then nailed his conversion from the sideline to make put the green and gold ahead 12-5.

The New Zealanders hit back with a try soon after to make the score 12-10, but Harvey made his mark on the game again just before half-time as he produced a brilliant chip-and-chase on the hallway line, which he then regathered before passing to put NSW teammate Liam Grover over for Australia’s third try.

The Aussies led 17-10 at the break but found themselves behind 29-17 on the hour-mark following an early New Zealand onslaught in the second stanza.

However, Australia powered home with two more tries, the second of which was after the siren to make the score 29-27.

That last try gave Harvey a chance to salvage a draw as he stepped up to the tee five metres in from touch, and the Narrabri boy got the job done as he nailed the conversion to make the final score 29-all against Australia’s Trans-Tasman rivals.

A reshuffle for game two saw Harvey start at fullback in the 15 jersey and Fowler named on the bench against the South Africans.

Australia were behind 14-0 at half-time in that match and 17-0 after 46 minutes, but Fowler’s introduction helped the Aussies mount a comeback as they scored two tries that Harvey converted to make the score 17-14.

That became 21-17 in Australia’s favour in the 63rd minute when the fullback set up Australia’s third try and kicked his third conversion of the contest.

A fourth try to Australia made the score 26-17 in the 70th minute before Harvey nailed a penalty goal to make it 29-17.

The South Africans then scored a late try to make the final score 29-24.

Harvey retained the number 15 jersey for Australia’s third and final match, while Fowler again wore the number 22 and came off the bench against the Argentinians.

The two sides went into half-time locked at 19-all in that match before Los Pumas nailed a long-range field goal early in the second half to take a 22-19 advantage, which was their first lead of the game.

Harvey provided another try assist for the tournament in the 49th minute to put Shane Wilcox over in the left corner and he nailed another sideline conversion to make the score 26-22 in Australia’s favour. The Narrabri boy then converted a 65th-minute try to put Australia back ahead 33-29 after an earlier Argentina try.

Australia went ahead 40-29 after a late penalty try before the Argentians crossed late to make the final score 40-36.

That result saw Australia go to the top of the leaderboard before New Zealand got the job done in their final game to be crowned champions.

The tournament success has given the Aussies a vital confidence boost before the start of the World Rugby Championships in Italy in June, which the two Narrabri boys are both hoping to be a part of.