Teen Wilkin joins Wallabies Sevens

The Australian Sevens program is delighted to announce the signing of 19-year-old Brisbane City flank, Bradley Wilkin, effective from January 2015.

The Queensland Reds Elite Development flank has a wealth of experience under his belt having represented Australian Schoolboys, Queensland Schoolboys and Brisbane City in the National Rugby Championship.

Wilkin has previous experience playing Sevens, after representing Australia in the Youth Olympic Festival in January 2013.

"I'm really excited to be given this opportunity. It's a brilliant chance for a new experience and to learn new skills and develop my game. I had a chat with [former Sevens representative] Liam Gill at the Reds and he told me that Geraint [John] was a very, very good coach who I can learn a lot from.

"I'm looking forward to linking up with the boys in the New Year," Wilkin said.

Despite impressive performances in the Dubai and Port Elizabeth legs of the 2014/15 Sevens World Series from his side, head coach Geraint John was keen to add to his stocks in the forwards.

"Brad is a player that comes highly recommended. He will complement the players we have in the group already with his height and physicality. Brad is an athletic forward and will give us that extra edge at the breakdown, which is so crucial in the Sevens World Series these days.

"From my discussions with him, he is hungry and keen to learn. I'm looking forward to working with him day-to-day at our centralised program and watching him develop as a player.

"I would like to place on record my thanks to Richard Graham and the Queensland Reds for their co-operation since we registered our interest in signing Brad," he said.