Shannon Walker (rugby) facts for kids
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Personal information
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| Born | 25 November 1988 Kyogle, New South Wales, Australia |
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| Weight | 81 kg (12 st 11 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Playing information
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| Position | Fullback, Wing | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Rugby career
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| Education | Palm Beach Currumbin State High School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Relatives | Cody Walker (cousin) Ryan Walker (cousin) |
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Shannon Walker was born in Kyogle, New South Wales, Australia, on November 25, 1988. He is an Indigenous Australian athlete who has played both professional rugby union and rugby league. He is well-known for playing Sevens Rugby for Australia. Before that, he played Rugby League for the Gold Coast Titans in the National Rugby League (NRL). Shannon usually plays as a Fullback, but he can also play on the Wing.
Contents
Shannon Walker's Rugby Journey
Early Life and Rugby League Beginnings
Shannon Walker grew up in the small country town of Kyogle. He was one of eight children in his family. He spent most of his childhood there. For a time, he lived in Bundaberg, Queensland, where he went to primary school.
Shannon loved rugby league from a young age. He started playing for the Kyogle Turkeys club when he was only five years old. By the time he was 16, he was playing for the club's top team.
In 2006, Shannon moved to the Gold Coast to improve his rugby league skills. He joined Palm Beach Currumbin High School, which is famous for its rugby program. In his first year there, he was chosen for the Queensland Schoolboys team. He also went on the 2006 Australian Schoolboys Tour to Britain and France. During this tour, he was named "man-of-the-match" in Australia's first game against Wales.
Queensland Cup Success
In 2007, Shannon began playing junior rugby league for the Tweed Heads Seagulls. This club is linked to the Gold Coast Titans. He played so well that he quickly moved up to the senior team in the Queensland Cup competition.
Shannon and the Seagulls had a fantastic season. They reached the Queensland Cup Grand-Final. They won the championship by beating the Redcliffe Dolphins 28-18. This win gave Shannon an early taste of success. His great playing that season was noticed. He won the 'Courier Mail Queensland Cup Player-of-the-Year Award'. He also received the Gold Coast Titans 'Young Player-of-the-Year' award.
Playing for the Gold Coast Titans
Many people thought Shannon Walker would soon play in the National Rugby League (NRL). After his success in the Queensland Cup, he was one of the young players expected to join the Titans. He showed his skills in the Gold Coast's first trial game of 2008 against the Canberra Raiders. Shannon scored a try, showing off his speed and fancy footwork.
He made his official debut for the Gold Coast Titans on May 16, 2008. This game was against the Canterbury Bulldogs. At that time, some believed he was the fastest player in the entire NRL.
On May 8, 2011, Shannon announced he had signed a contract with the Australian Rugby Union (ARU). He joined the Australian Sevens Squad. Sevens Rugby 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 again playing for the Tweed Heads Seagulls in the Queensland Cup.
