COFFS Harbour product Locky Miller has been selected for Australia’s Olympic Rugby Sevens team and flies out to the Tokyo Olympics later this month to represent Australia.

Rugby Australia announced the 12-man team last Saturday 3 July which Locky received with disbelief.

“When I received the ticket I had a lot of mixed emotions, there was a bit of disbelief when it sunk in that I was actually going to an Olympic Games mixed in with a sense of relief from all the hard work and sacrifices made,” said Locky.

Locky has been training with the Olympic team in Cairns and flies out to Tokyo on 19 July.

“The schedule has been a bit interrupted due to Covid, but we are in Cairns until 9 July then we are back to Sydney for 10 days and fly out to Tokyo on 19 July.

“Previous to our trip to Townsville to play against Oceania, me and my partner had our first child so leaving her with our four day old son was really tough but made all the easier by the selection.

“Determination is shared amongst the group to push on and get that gold.”

Locky’s path to Tokyo started with local rugby clubs the Coffs Harbour Snappers and the SCU Marlins.

“I played some juniors with the Snappers and joined the Marlins in seniors as I knew the coach at the time who was Dwayne Vines and really liked him and his style, he also helped me get a leg up and into the sevens program.

“I was 23 when I started in the Australian Sevens program and it all started with Vinesy helping me and getting me into a tournament to play for a team coached by Glen Ella who helped me get a look in and from there I got to play some development tournaments before getting selected in the squad full time,” said Locky.

 

By David WIGLEY