ABOUT YOUR HOST
SEASON 1 - 2020 - GRASSROOTS GUNS
Trae Stevens
Bermuda Rugby
Trae started playing rugby in his final year of high school and hasn't been able to stop since. Trae was given the chance to demonstrate his skills in the Bermuda Under 19's group then eventually to the national team. When he started at this level, he was thrown into prop without having any knowledge on how to play. Trae was part of the 49 man squad that won the Caribbean championship
Mitch Watts
Tamworth Magpies, NSW Waratahs U18's
From country Tamworth, Mitchell Watts attends Calrossy School, where he has just completed his year 12 trials. He plays for the Tamworth Magpies in the second row. He was selected for Central North, Nsw Country and the the NSW Junior Rugby Union U18’s. Mitch is beginning on his pathway to professionalism, but first hopes to achieve the marks to study commerce /law at university. Katrina spoke to to the modest and self deprecating Mitch about rugby and his experiences so far in rugby union.
Josh Flook started playing rugby at 6 years old for the Brothers Rugby Club in Queensland. He continued at the club through to playing colts and then first grade in 2019 at the age of 17. He was part of the Brothers Rugby Club squad that took part in the Queensland Premier Rugby grand final that year. He played in the first XV for Nudgee college for 2 years, in 2018 and 2019, winning the GPS competition with the team. Last year he was captain of the Australian U18 team and also captained the Australian Schoolboys. He received acclaim when named Queensland's U19s Player of the Year in 2019. Josh has also secured his name in the Junior Wallabies' squad for the Oceania Rugby U20s Championship.
Josh Flook
Australian Schoolboys, Brothers Brisbane, Queensland Reds
Brad Lacey
Western Force, Qld Reds, Brisbane City, Australian U20, Australian Schoolboys , Wests Scarborough
Brad Lacey is an electric outside back who looks to threaten the opposition every time he gets the ball in his hands. . A product of the RugbyWA development pathway, Lacey spent a year with the Queensland Reds and Brisbane City in 2017 before returning to help Wests Scarborough to their second consecutive Premier Grade title that year. Lacey’s speed and strength with ball in hand will be a huge asset to the Force out wide.
Dietrich Roache
Australian Schoolboys 7's, Australian 7's, Western Sydney Two Blues
Dietrich Roache started playing rugby at the age of 15. He first played league, but following a family outing to the Sydney 7’s, fell in love with the game of 7’s and Rugby Union. He attended Patrician Brothers Fairfield and plays for the Western Sydney Two Blues in their colts program. He was named in the Sydney U18’s side, then NSWJRU U18’s squad and in the NSW Rugby Gen Blue program. In December 2019, he was named in the Australian 7s team for the World School 7s Tournament held in New Zealand. He recently signed a two year deal with the Australian Mens 7’s side and is an exciting and promising new talent in the fast paced game of 7’s.
Will Harrison
Australian Schoolboys, Randwick, NSW Waratahs
In 2018 Will Harrison became the youngest player to sign a professional contract with the NSW Waratahs and is regarded as one of the game’s most promising young talents. The 19-year-old cut his teeth at Marcellin College in Sydney’s east and Harrison has come through the NSW Rugby pathway system but a bad leg injury hampered his 2017 season. Following an extensive rehabilitation program, he returned to his club side Randwick and went on to captain Australia in the Schoolboys Tri Series against New Zealand and Fiji that same year. He is an all-round athlete, who has also excelled in beach sprinting, winning a state gold medal in the discipline. He is also a member of the Coogee Surf Lifesaving club.
Jack Bowen
Sydney Metropolitan, St. Ignatius College Riverview, NSW Waratahs U18 and U20
Jack Bowen is 16 years old and began his Rugby career at Chatswood Junior Rugby Club. He later moved to Mosman and represented Northern Suburbs Juniors where he was involved in the State Championship winning side in 2018. He has twice been selected for Sydney JRU team, and then after being identified as a promising player , became a member of the NSW Gen Blue academy program. He has been selected in the 'train on' Waratahs U18 and U20 training squads He currently attends St Ignatius College Riverview in Sydney and first represented the first XV in 2019.
