All Saints' student Cody Hopwood earns second green and gold jersey

This story was originally published in the Newcastle Herald. Photo by Simone De Peak. 

All Saints' College year 12 student Cody Hopwood will represent Australia, having earned his place on the All Australian Schoolboys rugby league side for the second time.

The 18-year-old, who currently plays on the Newcastle Knights Jersey Flegg side, will head to training camp for two weeks in October before playing France and Papua New Guinea.

Hopwood, who is a front rower, said he is thrilled to have made the side again.

"I was really excited, it's awesome, it's always a good time of the year. I was fortunate enough to get selected last year and when the opportunity came again I was pretty stoked," he said.

"We've got an extra game this year, we're going to do Papua New Guinea again so that'll be a good experience again, but we get to play a game in the Gold Coast this year.

"We play France on the Gold Coast before we go to Papua New Guinea so that's good there's a bit of an extra game this year."

A West Maitland Wallaroos junior, Hopwood said his experience on the national team last year was a positive one.

He said he made lots of friends on the side and it's been great to see them succeed over the past year.

"I've got heaps of friends that I played with last year that have gone on to play NRL now so it's pretty cool to see your mates playing at that high level already and it makes you realise it's not far away," he said.

Hopwood said there is lots to learn, wearing the green and gold jersey.

"When you play it's the best players from that age group in the country, so you sort of chew little ideas from players that play your position, I know I did last year," he said.

"I'm one of the senior boys in the squad this year so I'll probably try helping the younger boys that are on that side, so it's pretty good and they've got a really good coaching staff there too to create a real strong environment."

Hopwood said his ultimate goal is to play NRL for the Knights.

"That's the number one dream, that's what I work towards."

The Australian School Boys rugby league side will enter training camp in October for two weeks.

This year Hopwood represented the NSW Blues Under-19s in their win against Queensland in the Under-19 State of Origin.

In July, he was joined by schoolmates Jack Thompson and Jack Hilliar in the NSWCCC (Combined Catholic Colleges) U18's team that beat CHS (Combined High Schools) 40-12 in the final of the Under 18 Australian Schoolboy Championships held in Coffs Harbour.

His performance in this game saw him named Australian Secondary Schools Rugby League 18 Years Male Player of the Championships.

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