Harry Potter's magic Wallaby moment left him in shock

Fri, Nov 22, 2024, 11:52 PM
AW
by AAP and Nathan Williamson
The Wallabies face Wales at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff

New Wallabies winger Harry Potter was taken aback by his magical call-up as he became the 18th player to debut for Australia in 2024.

Potter didn't need to have people asking whether he put his name into Test's Rugby Goblet of Fire as coach Joe Schmidt sang his praises after calling him into the squad for the Spring Tour.

Watch every game of the Wallabies Spring Tour live and exclusive on Stan Sport.

With no expectations around his playing time, the 26-year-old was sorted in House Wallaby for Monday's clash with Scotland, starting on the wing.

"It was nice to get in the squad, but getting in the team's another thing, really," admitted Western Force flyer Potter, who's the 18th different player to be handed a debut for the Wallabies in 2024. 

"But I was pretty keen to get my go. I'm really excited to have the opportunity and grateful the coaches have given me that chance.

"I was pretty shocked to be honest. The team's obviously been going really well, and there's been some good continuity, so it's a huge honour to get that (selection announcement) in the team meeting. Yeah, a bit of a shock, and I'm excited for it."

As you'd expect, puns such as the above have followed the London-born flyer all his life, born months after the book was first published.

Down the years, the London-born player, who moved to Melbourne as a child and then returned to England to really launch his professional rugby career, has met all the jokes with patience and good grace.

"It's a good challenge for journalists to see if they can think of a unique or original Harry Potter pun," he noted after originally being selected for the squad. 

"It's been 26 years of it, so it's pretty funny, I reckon. And yeah, tip my hat if you think of something original."

Potter originally levitated to prominence with English club Leicester, marking up against the likes of Scottish opposition Darcy Graham throughout his stint with the Tigers.

He helped them claim a premiership under now England boss Steve Borthwick and admits the stint has given me a great perspective on the different styles of game and how he can mould his own style.

"My views of rugby have probably changed quite a lot. I learned so much in Europe about how rugby differs up here. Arguably, it's more of a Test match style of rugby, lots of set piece, lots of territory and kicking focus," he said. 

"Then, going back to Australia, Super Rugby is exciting, lots of attacking focus, backs getting their hands on the ball. So I've enjoyed that, and doing a little bit more of that at club level, and hopefully the Wallabies can put a bit of that out there at Murrayfield.

"I'm very grateful to have got the opportunity I did in the UK, and it worked out well for me but I wanted to come back to Australia, partly because I wanted to play for the Western Force, but largely because you can't play for the Wallabies unless you're playing rugby in Australia. 

"I'm so grateful to have been able to make that debut happen - fingers crossed, in two more days."

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