Tom Eveleigh
TOM Eveleigh is a promising young rugby league player whose talents have been recognised with a spot in a development squad camp in Sydney.
Tom got his start playing in Catholic schools representative teams.
The Year 6 student from St Mary’s Primary School initially trialled for the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle regional team.
He was selected to represent that team and went to Bathurst to play representative games.
From here Tom then went on to trial for the NSW Catholic Schools Polding team.
The Polding team is selected from a vast geographical area of NSW: north of the Harbour Bridge to the Tweed border and west to Wilcannia.
The only other Catholic team is McKillop which is south of the bridge to the Victorian border.
From the Polding team Tom went on to play in the All Schools Open Team State Primary Carnival.
This carnival featured both public and Catholic school representative teams. At this carnival 34 boys were selected to form a development squad.
NSW Rugby League is responsible for the squad at Narrabeen.
The team goes into camp next week and coaching staff will be holding skills sessions while the team will also play trial games.
At the end of the camp a final 17 boys will be selected to form the final schoolboys’ side.
Tom is modest about his accomplishments so far but is looking forward to being part of the development squad.
“I’m excited about next week,” he said.
He also acknowledged his parents’ role in his success.
“I thank my parents for their support,” Tom said.