By Tom Greenaway

At 21, Jack Dempsey has the rugby world at his feet.

Having recently signed on with the Waratahs until the end of 2017, the hard-nosed back rower from Saint Ignatius College in Sydney is quickly rising as one of the top developing prospects in Australian rugby.

“It’s huge to be honest (talking about his contract), this year was my first full year training with the big boys. Taking the field with those guys was really a dream come true,” he told Rugby News.

After earning three Super Rugby Caps last season, the young flanker is bidding to refine his game with the North Harbour Rays in this years NRC.

“Jack is an all round athlete,” Rays head coach Geoff Townsend said.

“He can carry and he can make tackles and be on ball. He can play pretty much at six, seven or eight, which is very handy.”

As the nephew of former Wallaby and fellow back rower Tony Dempsey, rugby was always a hot topic for Jack growing up.

“When someone in your families gone all the way (in rugby) it is a big part of your life… Having everyone in my family playing has obviously led me down this path to play.”

First strapping the boots on when he was ten years old, Jack soon made a name for himself playing for the Lindfield Rugby Club, a Gordon feeder club, and Saint Ignatius College, where he won the GPS title in 2011 and earned Australian Schoolboy honours in 2012.

Going on to represent Australia at two under 20’s World Cups, 2013 and 2014, the exposure he earned at a relatively young age made him realise what it took to become a professional rugby player.

“I was just stoked to make the team… it was a huge step up for me, I mean playing at that level having basically just come from schoolboy footy straight into a professional environment. I think it was great for me from a career perspective because I just got exposed really early.”

“You really see young guys get tested in this kind of format, after 20’s you can only really play for your country, so it’s a good platform to the next level.”

Impressing in the Intrust Super Shute Shield for Gordon and reinforcing his status as a top young prospect in the ranks, Dempsey was called up to the Waratahs development squad in 2013, and eventually cracked the first team squad this past season.

By his own admission, jumping onto the training paddock with blokes he idolised growing up left him a little star struck initially.

“Just training alongside guys like Hooper, Dave Dennis, Stephen Hoiles, Wycliff Palu… all these guys playing my position who I’ve watched as a little kid. Just to go up there and train with them was amazing for me personally.”

Jack would have to wait until round 14 of last years season to make his debut, earning his first Super Rugby cap in a 33-18 victory over the Sharks at Sydney’s Allianz Park.

The nerves, he says, nearly got the better of him.

“It was more the nerves in the week leading up to it when Cheik (Michael Cheika) first told me I’d be sitting on the bench against the Sharks, that was probably the hardest part… I remember the night before I didn’t get too bed until about 3 am just because I was so nervous.”

Having been named in the Rays squad for their campaign in this years NRC, the young forward is hoping to reinforce his status as a dominant young gun, and earn more game experience in the rapid play that is part and parcel of the Championship.

“The first thing that jumps out at you from playing in this comp is just how quick it is, the amount of space that’s out there you only think there’s thirteen guys out there.”

“It not only gives guys opportunities to see what they can do in such space, but it (the NRC) is also really good for figuring out people who probably can’t really handle this level. It’s a good testing point for guys who deserve a crack.”

With a healthy offseason and more game time to come in the NRC, Dempsey is on track to make the leap from prospect to superstar as, in the words of Rays coach Geoff Townsend, “the sky is the limit for Jack.”