Features 17
Have you ever dreamed of packing
up and exploring the world and, at
the same time, doing what you love?
Joshua did just that when he studied
abroad in America for a year and won a
national title with his university rugby
team, the Warhawks.
Joshua, who’s studying a Bachelor of Education
with a major in HPE and a minor in special education,
attended the University of Wisconsin Whitewater
for two semesters during 2015 and 2016.
‘It was a 2km walk from my building to class, with
classes ranging from 50 minutes to an hour fifteen.’
Joshua took four special education subjects while over
there, which he said was a great learning experience
because of the facilities and resources available in
America.
During his time in the States, he played Rugby 15s
and Rugby 7s for the University team, and made the
national finals for both games.
‘I played rugby league here [Australia] for like 13 years
and enjoyed playing a new sport, but it took me a
long time to get used to it. I stopped giving away
penalties once I knew how to play.
'Sport is my life and I just wanted to go
to America to play some footy.'
‘It’s like a fraternity, joining a rugby club. It was just
really cool playing sport with a great bunch of boys,
and we travelled every week so I saw a lot of country.’
In the lead up to the Rugby 7s national title, the
Warhawks team travelled between 4 and 14 hours
every week, with games in towns from Pittsburgh to
South Carolina and Iowa.
‘For the 7s national title, we were on TV, in this
big soccer stadium in North Carolina. There were
commentators from USA Rugby Network, with the
game streamed online. It was probably the best thing
I have ever done. I felt like I was in the NRL. That was
probably the best experience I took out of everything.'
While in America, Joshua followed his passion of
sports and ticked off all the major sports that are a
must when in the US of A.
‘I went to see a basketball game, where the
Milwaukee Bucks beat the Cleveland Cavaliers. The
Bucks beat them in double overtime, but the Cavs