Kiama Rugby Club junior Asher Chapman has been selected to represent Australia in the Under-16 Australian squad.

Chosen after his standout season with the NSW Waratahs U16s, Chapman will attend a development camp this month before lining up against the Queensland Reds U17s at Wests Rugby Club on Thursday (11 December).

New Kiama Rugby Juniors president Richard Payne said he is thrilled to see a local player reach the national stage.

“I watched all of his NSW games through the Super AU series on TV and he was a complete standout the whole time,” Payne said.

“I think he finished as the leading try-scorer, or very close to it. He just stood out with the ball in hand, and defensively he looked very comfortable at that level - he commanded the ball, found space, had beautiful footwork and great defence. Really exciting.”

Chapman was the only Illawarra rugby player selected, and he has been a long-term junior at Kiama Rugby Club.

“He’s been playing since he was eight,” Payne said. “He’s been a long-term junior, and his dad was a former president of the Junior Club and is now president of Illawarra Rugby. They’re a family who have dedicated a lot of time to the club.”

Despite juggling commitments with NSW, Australia and rugby league for the Illawarra Steelers, Payne said Chapman always makes time to return to Kiama.

“This year he was tied up with a huge amount of representative football in both codes, and he always found time to come back and play for Kiama,” he said.

“I watched him play a few games and he did some special things that not many people can do on a football field. The boys got such a thrill out of playing with him - he got them all the way to the grand final. He was a huge part of that. He’s an amazing football player, but he’s also really dedicated to the club.”

Payne said Chapman is already a role model to younger players.

“All the boys in that team got around him and went up to a couple of those NSW games. They absolutely loved watching him on that big stage and you could actually hear them through the TV - they were pretty loud, pretty supportive,” he laughed.

“He’s a great role model for the other young kids coming through who aspire to do some pretty cool things like he is now.”

What makes Chapman special, Payne said, is the combination of natural ability and hard work.

“He’s always been talented - I remember watching him run at Australian Champs in primary school. He’s super quick.

"But he keeps getting better because natural talent only gets you so far. His greatest strengths are his work ethic, dedication and passion for the sport,” he said.

“To stand out when you’re playing against Queensland, when you’re representing NSW - you’ve got to be a pretty special talent. And he certainly did. He’s put himself into that upper echelon, and Rugby Australia is clearly paying attention.”

The Australian U16 squad will face the Queensland Reds U17s at Wests Rugby Club next Thursday with the match streamed live on the rugby.com.au YouTube channel.