Former NSW Waratahs back Harry Wilson is excited at the prospect of adding to the family legacy after joining the Australian Sevens squad.
Wilson will join his brother Teddy and father David in pulling on the gold jersey as he prepares to debut in Dubai over the weekend.
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The older brother watched on as younger brother Teddy had a brief stint in the Sevens program two years ago, while David is renowned as one of the best flankers of his generation.
It follows in the footsteps of the Nasser family, with the brother-sister duo of Josh and Isabella currently in the Wallabies and Women’s Sevens squads respectively after their dad, Brendan, helped Australia to the 1991 World Cup.
“You get goosebumps thinking about it,” he told Rugby.com.au.
“It’s massive if I’m lucky enough to get on in Dubai. Really special for my family with my old man having a great career and then Teddy coming through the pathways and playing in Singapore, and he couldn’t speak highly enough of the program.”
Wilson returns to Australia after a stint in the United Rugby Championship with Welsh club Dragons.
With that stint came plenty of reflection for the 25-year-old as he adjusted to life outside his comfort zone.
“I remember the first day I got there, it was a massive whirlwind, and I had to take a breath because I couldn't really believe where I was, to be honest. I’d come from Daceyville and playing at the Tahs, being all around Sydney to now being in Cardiff, where it was I think -3 or -4, so it was a massive adjustment,” Wilson admitted.
“I think the biggest thing was just moving away from home in a foreign country where I'd never been before, and it was my first time touching down in Europe.
“It was a massive decision for me to leave the Waratahs. I was hitting my straps there, decided to leave, and have no regrets. I took a lot away from the URC, the travel, the competition itself, where you play some of the best teams in the world.
“It was tough being away from home and having to do things by yourself, away from my family, so being back here now in Sydney and playing here at the Sevens makes me appreciate it a lot more for sure.”
Wilson is still getting the hang of the shortened format compared to the 15-a-side game.
However, he remains confident he can make an impact as one of three debutants set for the opening round.
“I think the speed of it is obviously a massive part of it, and the running load, you cover so much ground in this sport with seven on the field. There's so much more room for guys to beat you one-on-one, so it’s about that skill execution because if you miss, it's a try,” Wilson explained as the main difference he found with the switch.
“Those little parts are going to be massive for me, whether I stay in Sevens or go back to fifteens, those skills that you learn here and the fundamentals are massive for a rugby player, so I'm really enjoying the challenge in what this sport brings.”
