Jason Seage running out for the Parra Eels in this years NSWRL SG Ball Competition (Photo : ourfootymedia)

Jason Seage feeds the Eels deadly backline in this years SG Ball Grand Final (Photo : ourfootymedia)

He represented Sydney Gold this year after a great season playing SG Ball for the Eels who made the grand final against the Roosters.

He and Penrith’s Harry Seijka were the leading half back try scorers in the competition with seven touchdowns each.

The cheeky half back came to rugby’s attention by playing rugby union for the school’s first XV. He went on to represent NSW Schools at the recent Australian Schoolboy Championships in Brisbane.

Seage told ourfootyteam, “I played a couple of schoolboy sevens events earlier in the year and I went pretty good. I really love sevens. It suits my running and passing game. It’s a lot of fun.”

Watching at one of those sevens events was none other than dual rugby international and former Manly Sea Eagle Michael O’Connor who is now the Australian sevens coach.

O’Connor was suitably impressed that day so when Seage was up in Brisbane with NSW Schools, O’Connor had a chat with him to see whether he was interested in changing codes.

The Parramatta Eels offered Seage a two year contract extension and there was interest from two other NRL clubs but Seage said the opportunity to travel the world and play a game he loves was irresistible. “I want to give it a red hot go”, he said.

He has been playing with the Eels since they won the Harold Matthews competition in 2008 so is he sad about leaving his beloved Eels and many of his mates? “Yes I am a bit sad to be leaving. I love the Eels and I’ve made lots of friends here.

But at the same time I’m excited about the opportunity I have. As well as playing sevens I am part of the Waratahs Academy so there is much to learn.

Seage is leaving Parramatta on good terms. “Matty Cameron our Toyota Cup coach and Daniel Anderson both told me I would be welcome back if it doesn’t work out for me.”

The international sevens tour commences in December 2010 in Dubai and then for the next six months they travel to exotic locations including George, Las Vegas, London, Edinburgh, Wellington, Adelaide and Hong Kong.

All this is good news for rugby league juniors because the sevens provide another pathway to get into elite sport.

Cronulla Sharks Toyota Cup player Brackin Karauria-Henry was signed last year by the ARU to play sevens.

In the 2009-10 season the former Endeavour Sports High School student was Australia’s top tryscorer on the international circuit with 30. He has just signed a two year deal with the Waratahs to play Super 15 next year.