Queensland country stalwart to tackle Hong Kong tens.

​By Nic Darveniza

​The Southport School on Queensland’s Gold Coast has produced more than it’s fair share of Wallabies legends.

Recent graduates range from Queensland Rugby’s latest Premiership heroes like James Slipper and Rob Simmons to all-time Wallabies greats Nathan Sharpe and Matt Rogers, to name just a few.

In 2011, a young front-rower named Campbell Wakely, aged 17, was by unanimous decision inducted into the Hall of Fame of arguably Australia’s finest Rugby nursery.

In 2016, Wakely will feature for King’s College at the GFI Hong Kong 10s. Fast approaching his physical prime at age-22, Wakely’s ultimate goal in Rugby is to represent the Queensland Reds, a feat the versatile front-rower is well on his way to achieving.

“The dream is to play Super Rugby one day, and I’ll jump in to NRC and club rugby and anything else that comes my way that helps me achieve that goal.

“The Hong Kong 10s are such a well-recognised competition that it’ll really broaden my horizons professionally. "Playing well in Hong Kong would add so much to my Rugby C.V, so I’m keen to get in there and make a splash in front of a great international crowd,” Wakely said.

Wakely first joined King’s College on a University of Queensland elite athlete scholarship in 2012, assisting the University Red Heavies on the road to Premier Grade titles in 2012 and again in 2014.

Named a shadow-squad member for the inaugural Queensland Country National Rugby Championship side in 2014, Campbell’s ability to pack down at any position in the front row helped him force his way into the starting side.

Now one of Country’s most-capped players, Wakely is an essential selection in one of the NRC’s strongest set-piece sides at any position in the front row.

“Playing in the NRC really helped me step up my game to a professional level,” Wakely said.

“Little things like diet and recovery have been huge, and sitting down to really reflect and analyse your performance each week has helped me loads,” With ample elite experience in the fifteen-a-side game, Wakely turns his attention to Rugby 10s alongside his mates at the Hong Kong 10s.

“We’ve got a young group of boys but there’s just so much talent here at King’s College,” Wakely said.

​“We’ll definitely be heading in as underdogs but I think we’ll shake that off pretty quickly,” King's compete in Pool C at the Hong Kong 10s alongside the Chinese national team, UBB Gavekal and the Penguins.