As a pupil at Old Buckenham Hall School and while playing rugby for Ipswich RFC and Ipswich YM, Harry Rowland won his first representative honours with selection to the Northampton Saints Elite Player Development Group.
Now as a 16-year-old, Year 12 pupil at Framlingham College and able to play at scrum-half, fly-half and inside-centre, Harry gained his first international Test cap after representing Denmark U18s against Sweden on April 6, in Copenhagen.
“The opportunity to represent my mother’s country has been a great experience,” said Harry.
Harry won further representative honours at the Danish Youth Championship on May 26, at Hundested and has subsequently been invited by the Danish U18s Head Coach to play in two further capped Test matches later this year and also to join the U18s squad again for the 2019 season.
Harry is also a qualified Level 2 referee and has received encouragement from a number of Suffolk/ECRU/RFU educators and mentors with support from local clubs Colchester, Mersea Island and Stowmarket to succeed in his role as an RFU Young Match Official.
As a Young Rugby Ambassador (YRA) Harry was invited to Twickenham recently as a guest of the RFU with 60 other YRAs from around England’s six regions to attend the annual National YRA Celebration Event.
An inspiring welcome speech from England, Barbarians and Lions legend and current RFU President, John Spencer, a workshop to develop the future YRA programme and lunch was followed by a Q&A with special guest and current England captain, Dylan Hartley.
The celebration event concluded with 15 individuals being announced as RFU National Award winners for their outstanding contribution to the YRA programme and impact in their local community with the prizes presented by Hartley.
Among those honoured was Harry who received his “Highly Commended” award from Dylan Hartley in the prestigious RFU “Young Rugby Ambassador of The Year” category with a citation that recognised “his incredible first season as a YRA, making the most of the opportunities available by going above and beyond in the YRA programme” with regard his successful refereeing at County, Regional and National Festivals and support of the ABF The Soldier’s Charity.
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