JOSH Coward's prospects of a professional rugby career just got a whole lot better.
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The St Patrick's College boarding student and captain of the school team has been picked to represent Australia at the Commonwealth Youth Games, to be held in Samoa during September.
He will form part of the country's rugby sevens team at the Games.
Coward has aspirations to play at the elite level and this exposure on the international stage is sure to boost his opportunities.
The year-12 student’s selection comes after a strong display at the national titles while representing Victoria earlier this year.
"I’m very excited,” he said.
“I think I went well enough to get picked. I had a pretty good carnival.”
The 18-year-old is one of three Victorians to be named in the Australian team, with fellow St Pat’s student Nicholas Donghi selected in the shadow squad after impressing at national level as a bottom-age player.
St Pat’s rugby head coach Mike Silcock said Coward had a promising career ahead of him.
“Reaching this elite level in the sevens and with the Olympics coming up next year, sevens is growing exponentially within the country,” Silcock said.
"So having this representation now puts him in a very strong position for a potential professional career - either specifically in sevens or in the 15s game as well."
Coward is part of an emerging player program with the Melbourne Rebels and has been doing training sessions with his father Greg in the lead-up to the Games.