By Lee Clow
SCHOOLBOY Connor Madden has his sights on a professional rugby career after being selected as part of the WRU Exiles squad.
The 15-year-old joins up with the Welsh Exiles, a programme that identifies, monitors, develops and recruits Welsh qualified players from the ages of 12 to 18, who are based outside of Wales.
The aim is to ensure no top Welsh talent falls off the radar and ends up in the hands of rivals like England, or from even further afield.
From a rugby loving family, Connor was destined to play the sport and at the age of just three, he began playing alongside his older brother.
Connor currently plays as an Inside Centre for his school’s team and his local side, East Grinstead RFC. Connor is also part of the Harlequins Academy in which he is involved in their Developing Player Programme (DPP).
The Sackville School student received the news of his selection in the Exiles squad earlier in September of this year. When asked about his call up, Connor replied: “I thought it was amazing. I hadn’t previously played for the Welsh Exiles or had any training so I couldn’t quite believe it.”
Connor was injured at the time of his call up but has since made a return to full fitness, and only last weekend participated in his first game for the Exiles. Connor helped his new side as they impressively ran out 10-22 victors over Llandovery College.
Congratulations to Connor M who was recently selected as part of the Welsh Exiles squad. He played his first game this weekend; Llandovery College invitation XV v Welsh Exiles score was 10-22. Well done Connor on this fantastic achievement! pic.twitter.com/szL8lYLZFn
— Sackville PE & Sport (@SackvilleSport) October 12, 2021
“My first game was against Llandovery College, who are one of the best teams in the country and have produced many Welsh international players, so it was incredible really,” said Connor.
“I am very impressed [with the Welsh Exiles], during the game there were scouts from three different academies, it was all filmed, the coaching was very good, and it was very well organised.”
Following on from his first game, Connor is looking to push on and keep progressing further under the guidance of the Welsh Exiles programme.
“The ideal goal would be to take it all the way with the Welsh Exiles. I want to be picked up by one of the regions and then go through the academy and see whether I can make it as a professional player.”