Rugby Union: Mitch Henderson, Hunter Dalzell and Joey Fowler to feature at National U16 Championships and Junior Gold Cup

Tamworth's Mitch Henderson and Scone's Lachlan Park will feature for NSW, and Hunter Dalzell Queensland at the National U16s Championship in Canberra while Narrabri's Joey Fowler will suit up for the NSW Gen Blue White at the U15 Junior Gold Cup in Sydney.

Both tournaments kick off on Sunday and will bring together the best young talent from across the country.

Henderson is hoping to be given the all clear to play after breaking his collarbone in Farrer's NRL Schoolboy Cup quarter-final win back in August.

He has been doing all the training with the squad, minus the contact, and will travel down with them, looking at it regardless of what role he plays as a good learning experience.

It has been a bit of a frustrating time, with the injury, which was courtesy of a late hit, seeing him miss the Schoolboy Cup semi-final, a ski trip for school and the CHS athletics, and potentially the nationals.

He learned he had made the squad the week before he was injured.

It was somewhat of a bonus with rugby union not really on Henderson's radar at the start of the year.

Part of the Newcastle Knight's Elite Pathways Development program, league was his main focus.

"I wasn't planning at all to play any rugby," he said.

But after wrapping up his Harold Matthews commitments in May he found himself at a bit of a loose end. Because the Knights aren't affiliated with Country Rugby League he couldn't play for a local side here.

So he started playing a bit of rugby for Farrer in the Friday night competition, really as a bit of fun.

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But after being invited by one of the Combined High Schools coaches to trial for the under-16s team and impressing there one thing led to another.

Dalzell will meanwhile don the maroon after starting at The Southport School this year.

Playing in the second row, the former Calrossy student had a strong season and helped his under-16 A's side finish second in the Queensland GPS competition.

Fowler's Gen Blue selection caps off a big year for the 14-year old, who is eligible for the squad again next year.

Moving down to Sydney to attend St Joseph's College Hunter's Hill, he enjoyed an undefeated GPS season with his Joey's under-14 A's side.

He also played for Gordon at the NSW Junior Rugby Union Championships, helping the Highlanders win the state title.

Fowler's impressive performance there saw him then selected in the City squad.

He will start at five-eighth for the White, shifting back to his preferred position after playing most of his school and rep footy this season at 12.

The 15s championships will be played in two conferences with the three NSW sides battling it out in the southern conference against the ACT Brumbies and Melbourne Rebels. The top side will then tackle the winner of the northern conference in the final on Saturday.