By Matt Findlay; Photo: Paul Seiser/SPA Images

Combined States might have been eliminated from the Australian Schools Championship title race in Thursday’s semi-final against Queensland I, but there’s no denying the young stars have once again proven the value of the composite side.

Along with giving identified players from states that don’t have stand-alone sides like South Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory along the chance to shine, the Combined States outfit also provides an opportunity for younger players from the bigger states to gain much-needed exposure and experience.

NSW I five-eighth Jude Gibbs is a good example, he played for Combined States last year and the experience he gained was a huge boost to his state selection bid this year.

Of this year’s Combined States group there’s few, if any, better examples than hooker Digby Cooper, who didn’t even think he’d be in his school’s first XV in 2019, let alone playing for NSW ISA and then at the national titles.

“I thought I’d be playing in the twos at school, so even getting picked for ISA was massive,” the 17-year-old said, who plies his trade with Kinross Wolaroi School in Orange.

“I thought I might be a shout for the thirds there but then I got picked in the firsts squad, and dropped down to seconds in the end. It opened my eyes a little bit, but it gave me a lot of confidence knowing I was on the radar, that sort of made me think ‘I can do this’.

“We got put to the sword by a really strong [Combined Associated Schools] side at the NSW trials so I wasn’t expecting anything to come of it, I was just happy with the experience.

“I thought ISA would be it and I’d have been happy with that, so getting the phone call for Combined States was a massive shock.”

The confidence he’s picked up from Combined States’ campaign, which finishes on Saturday in the third-place play-off, can’t be understated, and that’s something he’ll take back to his school and into next year’s NSW trials.

“The message from the coaches was that we’re not just here to fill a hole, we’re here to play some good rugby because they want to see more of us and that’s a real confidence boost too,” Cooper said, having played a huge role in a scrum that demolished Queensland I on Thursday.

For someone who had no delusions of grandeur in terms of representative selection, his goals have changed as a result of the Combined States nod too.

“After seeing the NSW trials and (now the nationals), I’ve set myself the goal to make NSW II next year, which I wasn’t really thinking about before this,” he said.

The experience too, is something he’s relished, and the fact he and his teammates were given the opportunity to force their way onto Australian Schoolboys and Barbarians selectors’ radars isn’t lost on the front-rower either.

“Playing good rugby we’d give ourselves every chance, but I think for most of us it’s about the experience, it could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity after all,” Cooper said.

“One of the great things about this side I think is that we [didn’t] know each other [going in]. I’ve met guys from South Australia and the Northern Territory, there’s a few Tassie boys too, and we’re all getting along really well, I’m sure we’ll be mates for a long time now too.”

Combined States were beaten 39-14 by Queensland I in the semi-final, with the latter side moving on to the decider against NSW I as a result.

They’d won their way to the final four with a thrilling victory over Victoria on day one, and will now face ACT in the third-place play-off, from 11.15am at Riverview.