He’s a big, strong, red-headed country kid who dominated the Shute Shield colts’ competition this year after finishing up at Narrabri High. 

There’s a lot to like about Sid Harvey and that’s before he gets talking about wearing a sky blue jersey. 

“You can overlook it and say it’s only an under 19s competition but we’re still playing for New South Wales and that’s not lost on me,” Harvey told Rugby News proudly. 

“There’s a lot of history in the Waratah jersey. 

“It’s a big part of my family and it’s a big part of my whole friendship group. 

“I’ve been lucky to make a lot of friends through rugby so far and I think this kind of represents that, so it’s pretty cool and I’m really looking forward to wearing sky blue again against the Reds.”

After playing his way from Narrabri High to the Australian U18s squad last year, Harvey joined Easts’ colts program last summer and was a standout in the Beasties’ premiership season. 

“Footy-wise the jump was a pretty big one. I’d probably only ever played one or two games at the level you’ve got to be at for colts, so it was a bit of an eye opener,” the fullback said. 

“But fortunately, I came into a really good Easts team and I just had to focus on my job.

“Off the field, I was lucky that my sister was at the club and then my older sister only lives around the corner so that made the move to the city a lot easier. I still had plenty of family around despite being a long way from home.”

While most talented young rugby players are offered opportunities at private schools in Sydney, Harvey said he never thought twice about staying in Narrabri and continuing to play with the Blue Boars – who won the Central North first grade premiership this year. 

“Dad was pretty heavily involved with the club and coached a lot of my sisters’ sides growing up. I always used to get annoyed that he’d always be coaching her and not me but that was the choice he made.

“I played all my footy at Narrabri, then played a bit of league and a bit of sevens during school, then was lucky enough to get picked in some rep teams and it all sort of went from there.”

Harvey is a prime example of the importance of both the NSW Country and Combined High Schools development pathways. 

“They are both super important and I don’t think they get the respect they deserve. We all know how many Wallabies have come from the country. 

“The CHS pathway is cool as well because it brings together kids from the coast, kids from the city and kids from the bush and gives us a chance to meet and become mates with people for different walks of life.”

Harvey will start at fullback for the NSW U19s against the Reds on Sunday and joins fellow country boys Brendan Palmer and Joey Fowler in a talented Tahs’ backline. 

“Brendan is just a ball of muscle, it’s nearly impossible to tackle him,” Harvey explained. 

“He played colts and a bit of grade for the Wildfires this year and I’m really looking forward to seeing what he can do against the Reds. I think he’ll light it up. 

“I grew up with Joey Fowler in Narrabri and played rugby with him from when we were six or seven years old so it’s cool to reconnect and play with him again. 

“In the backs, Liam Grover and Oscar Jorgensen are big strong centres. 

“Our forwards also look dangerous. I’d hate to be defending at fullback when some of those boys make breaks. 

“Hopefully we can attack off the back of them and score some points against the Reds.”

NSW U19s side to play Reds (1-15)

Nathaniel Tiitii, Charlie O’Kane, Will Goddard, Thomas Girle, Joe Mangelsdorf, Jacob Veiru, Austin Durbidge, Eamon Doyle, Hwi Sharples, Joey Fowler, Brendan Palmer, Oscar Jorgensen, Liam Grover, Thomas Klem, Sid Harvey.