I moved from the Gold Coast in late November straight after graduation from High School, and I’ve started a double degree at the University of Canberra studying Psychology & Exercise Science.“I’m settling in to life in Canberra really well; all I’ve been doing is training at the Academy and doing full-time Uni, but I’m finding the Psychology part especially interesting so far. A special talent tipped to reach the pinnacle of rugby in Australia, Noah Lolesio was a schoolboy sensation at inside centre. I’ll look to start off in colts and enjoy my footy and then hopefully if I’m playing well I will get an opportunity to step up to the bench for the First-Grade side and get picked for the NRC Under 19 competition. That pairing, combined with Reds’ utility Isaac Lucas, shared the playmaking duties for Australia’s 2019 Under 20 side which came within a whisker of snaring the World Championship title. Seamus and Noah, who has moved to Canberra this year to join the Brumbies Academy alongside Smith, will each receive $2000 in education reimbursements to support their ongoing off … “Lolesio has also benefited from Australia’s Elite Pathways in recent years, albeit in Queensland before moving to Canberra.“My first exposure to the pathway was in the Under 15’s Junior Gold Cup, with the Gold Coast team,” he explains. “To win the National Schoolboys Championships last year was a massive highlight, and then on top of that getting selected for Australia was really the cherry on top.“I had a really great year of footy last year, even backed up by my school team winning the ACT competition, and now with the opportunities I’ve been getting in the Brumbies Academy a professional career is beginning to look a little bit more realistic. “Now, it’s awesome to be in Canberra with the Brumbies Academy.“Once you add Club training into the mix, I’m training Monday through to Thursday and then there’s an optional session on Saturday. CENTRE. Lolesio graduated from The Southport School, in which he … He showed great decision-making ability regarding when to utilise his playmaking skills and when to run with the ball and scored a vital try in his side’s tight win over NSW in the battle for third place.The newly re-formed Brumbies Academy will allow Noah and Seamus, who both started for the Australian Schoolboys in both of their matches in 2017, the opportunity to access professional-standard facilities and High-Performance coaching.“Being brought up in Canberra, I’ve always played for the Brumbies’ junior sides right from Under 12’s onwards,” Smith said.
Time will tell if that’s true, but don’t be surprised if in 12 months’ time we’re talking about Noah Lolesio being a fringe-Wallaby.
The Auckland-born playmaker made the move to the ACT straight from school, hoping the Brumbies was his best path to Super Rugby. The Auckland born playmaker, who is the cousin of former All Black Francis Saili, was educated on the Gold Coast and represented the Australian Schools. A vital member of the junior Wallabies team that made the U20 World Cup Final against France in Argentina, alongside Nick Frost and Lachlan Lonergan, Noah Lolesio was the tactician that drove the team to that success. It would be an absolute honour to go any further in Rugby. Noah Lolesio joins the senior ranks at the Brumbies for the first time this season, having trained full time with the squad last year. The next obvious stage for Lolesio to grace is Super Rugby, and with Christian Lealiifano’s departure, many believe Lolesio is the natural successor. While it hasn’t necessarily been smooth sailing across the park, two young five-eighth talents have stood out in particular: the Waratahs’ Will Harrison and the Brumbies’ Noah Lolesio. “It’s very important to me that I find the right balance between footy and study; I do want to make it professionally in footy, but I also understand the importance of thinking about other aspects of a career.“University gives me that crucial backup plan. NOAH LOLESIO. 178cm | 88kg | 18 December 1999. Money and finance have always been an interest of mine and something I studied at school, and I think that there are a lot of job opportunities in that sector, so when I thought I should go to Uni this year Commerce was the obvious choice.”For playmaking centre Lolesio, who was the Vice-Captain of the Australian Schoolboys side in 2017, the Scholarship has helped in making his move to the nation’s capital as smooth as possible.“It truly means the world to be granted this Scholarship,” he said. I think it is very important that I keep my eyes on a Plan B and continue to move my life forward, just in case I don’t end up playing Rugby professionally.”Smith led the ACT to their first National Schoolboys Championship since 1988 last year, the former Marist College student playing a starring role with his speed to the breakdown and accurate passing particularly impressive as he scored his side’s first try in the Final.Meanwhile Lolesio, the former Southport School (Gold Coast) student, caught the eye at the National Schoolboys Championships in the 12 jersey for Queensland 1. 2017 Australian Schoolboys Rugby Championship winning Captain Seamus Smith (ACT) and Queenslander Noah Lolesio are the recipients of the 2018 RUPA Australian Schools Rugby Union (ASRU) Scholarships. Noah Lolesio is an Australian rugby union player who plays for the Brumbies in Super Rugby.His playing position is centre.He is also able to play as a fly-half.He has signed for the Brumbies squad in 2019. Tuggeranong Vikings. On the field, Pietsch broke through for his first few World Rugby Sevens series tournaments for Australia and Jaffer-Williams was named for the second straight season in the NSW Gen Blue U20s as well as representing Australian Universities at November’s National Rugby Sevens Championships. “This year I’ll play my Club footy at the Tuggeranong Vikings. The Auckland-born playmaker made the move to the ACT straight from school, hoping the Brumbies was his best path to Super Rugby.In the preceding two years, Lolesio has played for the Brumbies Runners a number of times, won a John I Dent Cup with Tuggeranong Vikings where he was named Man of the Match, captivated crowds with the Canberra Vikings at NRC level and has helped guide the Junior Wallabies to within one score of winning an U20 World Cup.