Harry Bell dreams of being a Wallaby. And he knows exactly what it’s going to take to get there.
The John Eales Rugby Excellence Scholarship holder spent the week in camp with an extended Wallabies train-on squad under the watchful eye of coach Eddie Jones.
Australian players not still involved in Super Rugby were put through their paces at the Gold Coast Performance Centre at Runaway Bay as Jones prepares to name his squad for the upcoming Tests against South Africa and New Zealand in the lead-up to September’s World Cup in France.
Bell was invited along to participate and believes the experience gained can have an immediate impact on his game.
“It was really cool and from my perspective a big confidence booster being among the best in the world,” he said.
“From seeing them on TV and then getting to train with them was an amazing experience and is going to be really beneficial as I develop my skills.
“I picked up some tips on ball carries, their open field organisation was incredible to observe and having to keep up with that pace for three days has really helped my reaction time.’’
The 19-year-old front rower tips the scales at 112kg and is known for his physical brand of rugby, so relished the chance to test himself against battle-hardened senior footballers.
“I learnt a lot about contact especially,” he said.
“I held my own a couple of times and a couple of other times I got bumped and hit pretty hard which was great for my development.
“I got whacked by one of the wingers and then I went to make a tackle on one of the boys and he just put a really good shoulder on me, and I wound up in the dirt.
“I was happy, I was pretty battered and bruised but I’m still walking. The games would be 10 times harder, I know that, but it still gives me some confidence.’’
While most kids his age could be forgiven for being tongue-tied amongst their childhood heroes, Bell was lucky to have a familiar face in the camp – Wallaby prop and cousin Angus Bell.
“Angus and I got one or two drills against each other and that was surreal,” he said.
“He’s family, but he is also a professional player that I see as a role model.
“We’re in regular contact but I don’t get to see him too often because I live up here now, so that was great.”
And his first encounter with the man who he may one day call coach?
“That was the coolest part,” he said.
“Eddie Jones is a mastermind coach, he is so professional and a great person to follow because the way he constructs training teaches you so much.”