Shannon Walker (rugby) facts for kids
.jpg) |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Personal information
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | 25 November 1988 Kyogle, New South Wales, Australia |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 81 kg (12 st 11 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Playing information
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Fullback, Wing | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Rugby career
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Education | Palm Beach Currumbin State High School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Relatives | Cody Walker (cousin) Ryan Walker (cousin) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shannon Walker is an Indigenous Australian athlete. He is a professional rugby union player, known for playing Sevens Rugby for Australia. Before this, he played Rugby League for the Gold Coast Titans in the National Rugby League. Shannon often plays as a Fullback or on the Wing.
Contents
Shannon Walker's Sports Journey
Early Life and Rugby League Beginnings
Shannon Walker grew up in Kyogle, New South Wales, a country town. He was one of eight children in his family. Shannon spent most of his childhood in Kyogle. He also lived in Bundaberg, Queensland for a time, attending primary school there.
Shannon loved rugby league from a young age. He started playing for the Kyogle Turkeys club when he was just five years old. By the age of 16, he was already playing for the club's top team.
Moving to the Gold Coast and School Success
In 2006, Shannon moved to the Gold Coast to pursue his dream of playing professional rugby league. He joined Palm Beach Currumbin State High School, which is famous for its rugby league program. In his first year, he was chosen for the 2006 Queensland Schoolboys team.
He also went on the 2006 Australian Schoolboys Tour to Britain and France. In Australia's first game against Wales, Shannon was named the best player.
Queensland Cup Success with Tweed Heads Seagulls
In 2007, Shannon started playing junior rugby league for the Tweed Heads Seagulls. This club is connected to the Gold Coast Titans. He quickly moved up to play for the senior team in the Queensland Cup.
Shannon and the Seagulls had a fantastic season. They reached the Queensland Cup Grand-Final. They won the championship by defeating the Redcliffe Dolphins 28-18. This gave Shannon an early taste of winning a major title. His great performance earned him the 'Courier Mail Queensland Cup Player-of-the-Year Award'. He was also named the Gold Coast Titans 'Young Player-of-the-Year'.
Playing for the Gold Coast Titans
Many people expected Shannon to make his debut in the National Rugby League (NRL) in 2008. He was one of the top young players expected to join the Titans. In a trial match against the Canberra Raiders in 2008, Shannon scored a try. He showed off his speed and fancy footwork.
Shannon made his official NRL debut for the Gold Coast Titans on May 16, 2008. This game was against the Canterbury Bulldogs. At that time, he was thought to be one of the fastest players in the NRL.
Transition to Rugby Sevens
On May 8, 2011, Shannon announced a big change in his career. He signed a contract with the Australian Rugby Union (ARU). This meant he would join the Australian Sevens Squad. Rugby Sevens is a faster version of rugby union with fewer players on the field.
In 2016, Shannon returned to the Gold Coast Titans for a short time. He was part of a "train and trial" deal. He played in one trial match against the Parramatta Eels. He also played for the Gold Coast Titans at the first Auckland Nines tournament in 2016. However, by April 2016, Shannon was back playing for the Tweed Heads Seagulls in the Queensland Cup.
