Rugby Union: Pirates young guns earn NSW Country honours

Six players have been selected to play for NSW Country, with three achieving higher honours again.

Toby Maslen will on Thursday line up for the NSW junior under-18 No.1 side against GPS thirds, following which a NSW side will be selected to attend the NSW Gen Blue U18 Academy camp starting on Monday and then head to Perth to face the Western Australian Force Academy team.

It is set to be busy times in the Maslen household over the coming months with younger sister Erika selected in the NSW Country under-17s women's side and to pack down at tighthead prop against Combined High Schools on Sunday. Saffia Arranz also made the side but is currently sidelined with a broken collarbone.

Amy Raphael, Phoebe McLoughlin and Miah O'Sullivan were meanwhile following the recent NSW Country Championships named in the Country senior women's side (Corellas). Also guns on the sevens field, McLoughlin and O'Sullivan are part of the Australian Women's Youth Squad and UNE Lions Squad.

Sunday will be the Cockatoos 17s first hit-out of a campaign that also includes the nationals schoolgirls championships and the annual Country v City fixture.

Maslen can't wait to pull on that gold jersey having seen her brother do it on numerous occasions. He has played for Country right through from under-14s.

Something she was hoping to achieve, she admitted she was very nervous she wasn't going to get in.

"I thought I played well enough to get in but you never know at this level," Erika said.

And while the 16-year old has been around the game for a lot of her life, following Toby around and with dad Jeremy coaching, she only started playing a few years ago. Taking Toby to trial for the Central North 7s team, her parents suggested she trial for the girls under-15s side.

Thirteen at the time, and much to her surprise, she made the side.

This season has seen her step up to the Pirates women's side.

Understandably initially a bit nervous, she said it has been really good.

"It's definitely taken a new set of skills," she said.

"Sevens is totally different and the game level is way higher than on a Friday night (schools competition)".

That she has trained with Pirates for the last two seasons, itching for her chance to lace up the boots, has helped with the transition.

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Maslen said it is nice to be representing alongside her brother. Jeremy is also involved with the Country program coaching the under-15s girls side.

For Toby making the NSW side had been a goal ever since he learnt it was a pathway, hoping it is a stepping stone to possibly wearing the green and gold later in the year.

The first step was making the Country side, and he was pretty happy with how he performed in their games against Manly colts and City.

"I thought I put myself out there to get noticed," he said.

Capable of playing in the forwards or the backs, flanker is his preference.

Naming David Pocock as someone he has looked to model his game on, one of the areas he has really worked hard on is his work over the ball.

"I've definitely tried to improve my pilfering, and running and tackling during the game," he said.

"They're the standout points that get you noticed."

Part of the Pirates' under-18 and under-19 sides, Maslen made his first grade debut last season and has this season sat on the bench a few times for first and second grade.