Lachlan Connors has capped off an outstanding final year of high school as one of two recipients of the prestigious John Eales Rugby Excellence Scholarship for 2018.
Connors will receive the scholarship alongside Southport School product Maxwell Dowd who captained the TSS 1st XV side in 2017.
The scholarship covers the full tuition of an undergraduate degree at Bond University, a living bursary and one-on-one mentoring sessions with John Eales.
Connors’ uncle, Mark Connors, played alongside Eales in Australia’s 1999 World Cup campaign and represented Queensland on a 134 occasions.
The St Pat’s graduate also recently received the Ian MacMillan Trophy for Queensland Schoolboy Player of the Year which is presented to the most outstanding Queensland Schoolboy Rugby Player each year and is the highest honour any schoolboy player can be awarded in Queensland.
Connors is the first St. Patrick’s College student to receive the award and said he is incredibly proud to be presented the award.
“It’s a shock really, I didn’t think something like this could happen at such a small school,” Connors said.
“To be on a trophy with some of the best is insane,” he said.
He now plans to study a Bachelor of Exercise & Sports Science when he commences at Bond in January 2018.
“What appealed to me about the John Eales Rugby Excellence Scholarship was having the chance to play Rugby at an elite level and further my aspirations to play professionally, while at the same study,” Connors said.
“Being able to mix study and Rugby is something a lot of people dream of doing, but not many get the chance to actually do it.”
Fellow recipient, Dowd, was this year named in the Queensland Schoolboys U18 side and captained the U18 Australian Schools Barbarians team.
“I was over the moon when I found out I’d been awarded the John Eales scholarship, as was mum and dad,” Dowd said.
“They know how much work I’ve put in to my football and my study the past few years and they’re incredibly proud and happy – as am I,” he said.
Dowd plans to study a Bachelor of Architectural Studies and one day hopes to be playing for the St.George Queensland Reds.
Bond University’s Executive Director of Sport, Mr Garry Nucifora said both students were worthy recipients of the scholarship.
"Lachlan and Maxwell are both exceptionally talented young Rugby players, excellent scholars and have proven leadership skills and potential,” he said.
“Bond University Rugby has established a clear and structured pathway to take aspiring young Rugby players from schoolboy through to professional Rugby, nationally and internationally,” Nucifora said.
John Eales is looking forward to meeting Lachlan and Maxwell in person to congratulate them and share to some advice.
“Having been an amateur and then professional Rugby player, I have a good idea of what they’ve got ahead of them, so hopefully my perspective and advice will be useful,” Eales said.
“I’m a big believer in education - not just at university but through lifelong learning. I’m sure both Maxwell and Lachlan will grasp the opportunity that’s been given to them with both hands and make the very best use of it – on and off the field,” he said.
