It’s been a big few months for Riverview No.9 Angus Grover. 

Still in year 11, the Lindfield and Gordon junior trained his way in to the NSW U18s side over summer then made his first XV debut for Iggies a few months later. 

He kicked a sideline conversion to beat Shore at home in his debut match in the GPS competition and has been selected in an initial 25-man Australian U18s Players of National Interest (PONI) squad. 

“I’m loving my rugby at the moment,” Grover told Rugby News. 

“Both my brothers and my dad had played first XV at Riverview so it’s something I’d always wanted to do.

“Liam is an outside centre and Hamish is a hooker and they’ve both really paved the way for me through my juniors and school rugby. 

“I’d always try and join in whenever Liam was doing extra sessions and dad used to always get Hamish to run at me to toughen me up and improve my defence.”

Riverview are sixth on the GPS ladder after six rounds and face Newington, Scots, Kings and Joeys when the season returns on Saturday July 27.

“We started the season well but unfortunately we fell away in a few tight games after that and we’ve dropped down the ladder a bit,” Grover explained. 

“But we’re still in it. We’ve got a camp at the end of the school holidays and then four games left in the season so we’re hoping to go on a bit of a run and then see where we end up.”

Grover is one of 12 NSW players that spent a week training with the NSW Waratahs main squad during the July school holidays as part of the Australian U18s PONI program. 

“It’s been a great experience and I’m learning heaps every day,” Grover explained. 

“We start with prep each morning, then come out on the main field and do about an hour and a half of skills with the main squad. 

“Then we break off and do positional work. So Sam Blank and I spent some time kicking with Teddy Wilson today and I did a bit of goal kicking work as well. 

“The speed of play is pretty eye opening and they are all really accurate with their skills.”

The initial 25-man Australian U18s squad was selected following U18 Academy matches played between NSW, QLD, ACT, Victoria and WA in February. 

Several players were added to the squad following the Australian Schools Championships on the Sunshine Coast earlier this month, with a final squad set to be selected later this year to tour New Zealand. 

“I really like the new set up because it’s based on form,” Grover told Rugby News. 

“We’re here training in the squad at the moment because we showed some form in the Academy games earlier this year, then others will join us after performing well at the Australian Schools Championships. 

“Then we’ve all got to go back and play well for our school or club and see if we end up in the final squad to go over to New Zealand. You get the full season to earn your spot in the squad, rather than just a few games.”

Grover plans to head to University after school but with his HSC still over 12 months away, still isn’t sure where or what he’ll study. 

For now, he’s focussed on finishing the GPS season with Riverview and potentially playing his way into a green and gold jersey later this year. 

“I’ve been bugging mum and dad all this year to help get me to as many sessions as possible so that I can keep learning and improving. 

“Obviously I want it for me, but it’d be great for them as well as they’ve given me a lot. 

“It’s hard to ignore it but I’m just trying to focus on playing and training and if I can do well, then hopefully selection will come.”