Local athlete to make Australian Deaf Rugby team debut in South Africa

The Hastings Valley Vikings player has been playing Rugby since the age of nine and at 18-years-old he has only just started playing with the seniors this year.

Now, Thick will be proudly wearing green and gold in Johannesburg.

"It will be incredible," he said.

"I am grateful for the opportunity to represent our country.

"Not many people get to do that."

Thick was selected by the Australian Deaf Rugby team's men's coach and Port Macquarie local Dave Kearsey during selection trials in Dapto earlier this year.

"Noah performed really well and got along with the existing Australia Deaf Rugby Players," he said.

Kearsey was happy that he was able to include Thick in the team.

"It's very good for me personally to be able to pick a young man who is a member of our club here in Port Macquarie," he said.

"It is a great experience for Noah and I'm sure he will display the Australian spirit over there."

To qualify for the team, a player must have at least a combined hearing loss of 24 decibels in both ears.

Both Thick and Kearsey are deaf in one ear and have fifty per cent hearing loss.

"A lot of people don't know that about me," Kearsey said.

"I didn't know that about Noah before I met him."

"We tend to hide it, but it means we qualify for the Australian Deaf Rugby team."

Thick is one of five debutantes to join the side in 2024, with the majority having played together against Wales in Argentina for the World Finals last year.

Kearsey said the majority of players are profoundly deaf and communicate during the game through hand signals, sign language and interpreters.

"We all have different levels of hearing loss and the good thing about the game of rugby is that it allows anyone to still find a position and place," he said.

"It is played in really good spirits."

Changes are made to the game to accommodate players, like the referee having a red flag as well as a whistle to get players attention.

The team will get together in early June for a squad training weekend at the Gold Coast before competition starts.

"It will be our only real training weekend with the whole squad and staff," Kearsey said.

"The squad will get to know each other and there will be a bit of bonding.

"But we will learn how we are going to play over there."

Thick loves the social aspect of the games and being able to play with his friends.

"It will be really cool to be in a new country with all the boys, and play against an international team together," he said.

There will be a jersey auction and game between Port Macquarie Pirates and Hastings Valley Vikings on Saturday, May 25 at Oxley Oval to raise money to send Thick and the team to South Africa.