Tim Thompson says it doesn't matter how old you are or what sport you're playing, representing your country is a huge privilege.
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It's something the Tamworth oztagger experienced for the first time last year, and is hoping to again next year on the sport's biggest stage.
Currently part of the Australian 45s team, Thompson was last month named in men's 50s World Cup squad.
Selected from last year's Australian Senior Oztag Championships, the current 30-strong Tagaroos squad will be trimmed to a squad of 20 to travel to Ireland following a final trial sometime later this year.
If successful in making the squad, it will be the second World Cup Thompson has played in. He played for the Australian Barbarians side in the 40s at the last edition four years ago.
They went on to win their division, beating Australia in the gold medal game.
It's just a privilege to represent your country no matter how old you are or what you're sport you're playing
- Tim Thompson
The experience of that is serving as plenty of motivation for Thompson to keep training hard and give himself the best chance of making the squad.
The coronavirus crisis has meant he hasn't really been able to get a footy in his hands for over a month but he has found plenty of other ways to keep himself active and hopefully in top shape.
Back in January he started a challenge to do 100 burpees a day.
Setting a 12-month challenge for himself, Thompson was inspired by former NRL player Michael Buettner, who is part of his Australian 45s team and has been doing it for around two years.
"I just saw how fit Buettner was. He's the best player in our side and I just thought I'd give it a crack," the father of two said.
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"I really enjoy it at the moment."
"It does keep the fitness, and the core fitness up."
Geoff Sharpe, who will coach the men's 50s side at the World Cup, has been doing the challenge with him. The Kootingal-Moonbi first grade coach has also been a good training partner.
Despite the limited avenues, Thompson said everyday he does something.
"Every day you do your burpees, plus the extra stuff, your running or circuits and that sort of stuff," he said.
He knows that if he doesn't do the work it could harm his World Cup chances.
"If you don't keep your fitness up you won't make the side," Thompson said.
The fitter you are, he said, the more you can push towards the end of the game.
Thompson is the only current local player selected in any of the 12 squads but could be joined on the plane by a former local in Anthony Heeney.
He has also been named in the 50s squad.
The two have played together for years with Heeney, like Thompson, there when the sport started up in Tamworth 25 years ago.
