Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart started his career with the Wallabies. Now his son Jed has a chance to start his with the Aussie Sevens.
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Both Jed Stuart and Corey Toole will headed to Sydney on Sunday to join the Australian Sevens program for an opportunity that not only opens the door to travel to Dubai - but also to next year's Commonwealth Games and the Paris Olympics as well.
Toole impressed playing for the Oceania Barbarians at the Oceania Sevens Championship in Townsville in June and it's believed he's already looking likely to be part of team for the two rounds of the Dubai Sevens on November 26-27 and December 3-4.
Stuart caught the sevens program's eye initially through some testing he did at the AIS before he helped the Olympics squad prepare for this year's Tokyo Games.
Now he's earned a week-long trial with a ticket to Dubai dangling at the end of it.
The pair played in the John I Dent Cup this year, for Gungahlin Eagles and Queanbeyan Whites respectively, with Toole the leading try scorer in the competition.
They're both going through the ACT Brumbies' programs, with Toole on an elite development squad contract and Stuart working with their Academy.
Their sevens call up could launch their careers with the Birmingham Games and the 2024 Olympics on the horizon.
Stuart's father famously toured with the Wallabies before signing with the Green Machine to start a glittering career as firstly a player and then a coach.
Now he's got the chance to blaze his own trail through rugby sevens.
Stuart admitted he's struggled to think of anything else since getting the call.
"Ever since they texted and said we were a chance it hasn't left my mind," he said.
"I've been trying to think of other stuff, but that's been in the back of my mind like a little tattoo.
"But it's good. I'd rather have the opportunity and for them to say no than to not have the opportunity at all."
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Toole's originally from Wagga Wagga, but has come up through the Brumbies system.
Now he's got two dreams to chase - the 15-a-side with the Brumbies and the sevens as well.
Dubai would be his first trip overseas, let alone his first gig with the Aussie Sevens.
Toole's studying exercise physiology at university and finished off his exams on Thursday - which he passed - just in time before having to head to Sydney for camp.
"I played in the Oceania tournament a few months ago. The coaches are keen to take me over to Dubai," Toole said.
"I'm playing some alright club footy in Canberra.
"It's pretty exciting. I'm pretty keen. I can't wait.
"I haven't really been overseas. It will be good to get away from Canberra especially - the winter's been pretty cold and it's pretty warm over there."
Stuart's got a fairly handy dad to lean on when it comes to advice, with Ricky letting him choose his own path.
While the 20-year-old played both rugby codes as a kid, he opted for rugby in his later years at St Edmund's College.
He's doing a carpentry apprenticeship and fitting his rugby around that.
"He's really supportive. He's never been pushy of what we do," Stuart said.
"He says, 'Play sport, do whatever you want'. He's proud of all of us. [My brother] Jack with his uni, [my sister] Emma's going really well with her house and obviously he's proud of me for getting the chance to go do this.
"He's very supportive - not as cranky as everyone thinks he is."
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