Will Skelton

[Joe Mac]

For a year now I have been waiting with keen anticipation to find out more about how this young 142kg monster was travelling. See article below:

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...an-waratahs-pack/story-e6frey4i-1225839364538

I remember reading somewhere he is in the Uni colts team. I was wondering whether anyone in the know (Bruce Ross?) could provide an update on the kid?

 

[Jnor]

Unless I'm mistaken (which I may well be) I've seen Willie Skelton or a guy that looks very much like him in the uni gym. If it wasn't him my defence is I was too busy being terrified at the size of his legs. Like telegraph poles ffs.

 

[Bruce Ross]

Yes, Joe, Will is playing for Uni Colts but is also in the Waratahs Academy. He was away for a couple of weeks as I understand he has been selected for Samoa Under 20s. He is progressing very well.

Like you, Jnor, I have been astounded by the sheer size of the young bloke. Sitting alongside him it is astounding how massive he is around the knees.

A real good kid.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

Hold on, he has been selected for the Samoan U20's. Would that eliminate him from playing for Australia if he ever gets that far? Why hasn't he been selected for the Aus U20s?

 

[RugbyReg]

nah it doesn't. Aussie 7s, the Wallabies and Aussie A (and similar teams for other nations)

See here.

 

[lily]

Samoa dont even have a team in the IRB jnr world cup. I wonder what they are training for.

 

[Bruce Ross]

Apparently they are playing in the IRB Junior World Trophy Cup (JWTC), lily; the Tier 2 competition. They were relegated last year and have to win the Cup to be reinstated in Tier 1.

 

[Bradley]

See http://www.irb.com/jwrt/index.html

IRB JUNIOR WORLD TROPHY – Competing Teams
Canada, Georgia, Japan, Russia, Samoa, Uruguay, USA, Zimbabwe

The first ever IRB tournament to be hosted in Georgia will see Tbilisi’s impressive Shevardeni
Stadium and the Avchala Stadium host double header match days, kicking off on Tuesday, May 24
when the hosts face Canada, Russia take on Uruguay, Samoa play USA and Japan meet
Zimbabwe. The final round of matches will take place on Sunday, June 5 to crown the IRB Junior
World Rugby Trophy champions, who will follow in holders Italy's footsteps with promotion to the IRB
Junior World Championship in 2012.

Preparations are progressing on track with organisers confident that the tournament will be a
resounding success and further boost a sport that is rapidly establishing itself as the number one
sport in Georgia, while also delivering a significant legacy for the Game.

“We are delighted to be in Tbilisi and see that preparations are ahead of schedule for the tournament,
with two first-class stadia selected to host matches,” said IRB Tournaments Manager Philippe
Bourdarias. “This is a wonderful opportunity for Georgian Rugby to show how much progress has
been made in recent years, including two new High Performance Centres here in Tbilisi and the
installation of a revolutionary artificial pitch. I am sure all the participating teams will enjoy an
exceptional event played in front of passionate and knowledgeable crowds who in turn can expect
some thrilling Rugby.”

Aside from providing Host Unions with major event experience, the Under 20 tournament plays a vital
player development role for participating Unions, preparing emerging talent for the Test arena. More
than 50 players have graduated from the IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy to win Test caps. For hosts
Georgia the results have been significant with David Chichua, Lasha Khmaladze, Viktor Kolelishvili,
Giorgi Rokvadze, Beka Tsiklauri and Vasil Kakovin all having graduated after playing in the inaugural
IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy in 2008.

Michael Ala'alatoa from Wests has also been selected

 

[Joe Mac]

Thanks for the update Bruce, Jnor

Bruce, how has he been doing for Uni and the junior Tahs this season?

 

[Bruce Ross]

I have no knowledge of any games he has played with the Junior Waratahs, Joe.

When I saw him playing 2nds Colts last year he reminded me of a 13-year-old playing in the Under 10s. The challenge this year is to develop him as a footballer so that he doesn't just rely on his size. The more time he spends learning his craft the better. I think he's developing well although his training is split between the Waratahs Academy and his Club, and now the Samoan squad.

 

[Prodigy]

We need to remember that Willie Skelton is only just out of school, hence one of the reasons he isn't in the Oz 20's squad. I actually coach his youngest brother in my school team and he says that Willie is playing with Samoa because his parents wanted him to have the experience and culture of the trip. They are very excited about it, and word is that he is loving every minute of it, as well as being a part of the Junior Tahs and Uni Colts!

 

[Lee Grant]

All this talk about Willie, on forums at least, started just over a year ago with an article about the Hills Schools pack weighing more than the Tahs 8.

When I first saw him play, in 2010 NSW Schools trials, he looked like a genial, lumbering giant, but I noticed, gradually, an improvement during the series as he increased his number of participations. He missed out on the NSW teams but made the Oz Schools tournament through the back door by being picked up by the Combined States side.

I didn't know how Willie would go as a senior player but was delighted when I found out, from a post by Bruce IIRR, that he was in the Uni stable. Later Bruce mentioned that another oversized lad, a fairly recent prop from WC whose name escapes me at the minute, was also at Broadway.

This is one of the many reasons why I have stopped bagging the Uni club in recent years. Sure, they are nurturing these large players for their own benefit, but I seriously doubt if they could do better than being in the Uni programme, especially the S&C area.

Incidentally, I saw every Junior Waratahs game this year, at least in Sydney, and Willie didn't get a run. There is nothing untoward in that: amateur "academy" players seem to come and go and many who pop up at sessions are not listed, and contrariwise, players who are listed are often not available to come to training.

Incidentally, Willie's Hills team mate, Steve Cummins, the 2010 Oz Schools captain, got a run in the 2nd row for the JWs against a hard head Oz Baas team. He was injured in the game, which is neither here nor there because that can happen to anybody, but you could see that he wasn't ready physically to play against those old stagers.


Prodigy

Thanks for that info about info about Willie and the Samoa U20 team. Good stuff.

 

[Bruce Ross]

Later Bruce mentioned that another oversized lad, a fairly recent prop from WC whose name escapes me at the minute, was also at Broadway.

Sam Talakai, LG? Playing 1st Grade and coming on very well.

 

[Lee Grant]

That's him - am just back from the Uni game and saw him. He scrummaged pretty well and looks like he is coming on nicely. He's no longer over-sized compared to the fellows he is playing with and against. Will write a report of the game on the Shute Shield thread later.

 

[Joe Mac]

I saw big Willie has made the National Academy. Can anyone provide any info on his progress over the 2011 season? Is he looking more like a rugby player these days?

 

[Hugh Jarse]

An update on the big fella from today’s SMH:

The Waratahs will confirm this week that Sydney University lock and former Samoa under-20s player Will Skelton has secured the extended playing squad contract vacated by Sam Lane, who withdrew from the Waratahs with a knee injury earlier this year.

Cheika said he was impressed with Skelton's performances training with the Waratahs squad over the pre-season and views him as a long-term replacement for Sitaleki Timani, who is set to take up a deal with French Top 14 club Montpellier at the end of this season.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/union-news/cheika-happy-with-standout-no7-jumping-through-hoops-20130317-2g8sl.html#ixzz2NpifNjZa

 

[Leicester Tiger]

I saw that Willie was playing in the pre season trials for the Waratahs. In fact he was the one that smashed James O'Connor in the Rebels trial.

Incidentally, Willie and Steve Cummins are currently coaching the next group at Hills Sports High.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Is it appropriate to include Cameron Skelton in this thread?

He is listed as the #4 for Sydney Uni Colts 2. In year 12 at Hills Sports I am told, and a reasonable size as well.

How many more are there Skeltons are there? Are the Skeltons our answer to the Whitelock's/Savea's?

 

[Leicester Tiger]

Cameron is still at school and plays for Hills. Big young man who has some ball security issues and is working hard on his fitness. Carrying around that size would be hard work for anyone! I am told he has a younger brother who is even bigger than Cameron and is only in year 7.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

I guess this bloke is no relation then:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Skelton_(jockey)

Bill Skelton (born 1931) was a top jockey in New Zealand Thoroughbred horse racing who competed from the 1940s for four decades. He also rode in Australia, South Africa, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong.
He started as an apprentice jockey aged 13, and rode his first winner (a dead heat) aged 15 at Winganui. He was champion jockey seven times, and was outside the top four of the premiership between 1947 and 1979 only four times. He rode a record 124 winners in the 1967-68 season, and in May 1980 became the first New Zealand jockey to ride 2000 winners; he finished with 2179.
Skelton was inducted into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame in 1990, and to the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame in 2006.
His brother Bob Skelton was also a successful jockey.