19-year-old country gun on his massive international debut

The gamble paid off in months. The 19-year-old had his pinch-me moment when he earned a spot in the Australian Men's Sevens Squad.

Last Saturday, January 31, 2026, he wore the green and gold and stepped out on the field to make his debut for the squad in Singapore.

"Heading out onto the field was just spectacular," he said.

"Running out of the tunnel and the atmosphere of the crowd, you just take everything in."

The jump from Bathurst to Sydney is a challenge for anyone, but Watters noted that his move was a crash course in adulthood, forcing him to find his feet quickly.

"It was very tough, especially the first three months, far out they were hard, I was so homesick," he said.

"I didn't really have anywhere permanent to live, so I was living in hotels and hostels with the help from mum and dad and my Sydney club I was playing for, Eastern Suburbs.

"It was easier once I moved in with a few of my mates, and I can now say that I have definitely settled in."

With the 'HSBC SVNS' in full swing, the Australian side has already faced three nations in the 2026 series, headlined by a hard-fought 19-14 victory over Argentina in their opening match.

"In the first half, I was quite relaxed sitting on the bench, but once halftime hit, that's when the nerves started to kick in," he said.

"I ran on, and all the nerves just went away.

"I wasn't too nervous about dropping a ball or passing, I was just excited to play footy and be amongst the crowd and the atmosphere."

Watters reflected on his love for the game, noting that the match against New Zealand put into perspective just how rare his opportunity is.

"I can't quite explain it, it's pretty surreal, especially against New Zealand," he said.

"I grew up watching the Bledisloe Cup, and to be named against the New Zealand team was amazing.

"I wanted to do my family proud."

Watters talent first caught the eye of Andrew Cleverley (Head of Talent Management at NSW Rugby Union) while playing outside centre for the St Stanislaus' College first XV.

"It started two years ago in 2024, when I was in year 12," he said.

"I was fortunate enough to get selected for the Australian Schoolboys Rugby team, and then from there I started training with the Waratahs Academy, and was selected in the Global Youth Sevens team for Australia.

"Then I played in the Australian under-20s and the Rugby Championships in the World Cup."

Watters narrowed his long resume down to his top two sporting highlights, both of which he views as pivotal moments in his career.

"Something that I will never forget is probably playing for the Australian Schools Rugby Championship and the Global Youth Sevens tournament," he said.

"That championship up in the Sunshine Coast is where I had the most fun, met some of the best blokes, and it defines why I'm so in love with the game.

"It was such a good stepping stone and pathway for young kids like myself to make the move up into the men's."

Watters spent his early playing days with the Bathurst Bulldogs, and now, as he builds his career, receiving a postcard from home means everything.

"I'm so proud of where I come from, and I've got so much support back home," he said.

"I still get heaps of young boys that are still in school who send me a text and say, 'Hey mate, what you're doing is amazing, and we look up to you so much'.

"Receiving those messages is just unreal, and I'm trying to show kids that even though we're from the Central West, you can still make it, and do these big things, and get on the big stage."

For now, Watters is focused on sevens over Super Rugby and given his trajectory, his ultimate dream feels neither surprising nor unrealistic.

"I love playing sevens, it's such a fun sport," he said.

"But I would also really love to go back into 15s and make a bit of a pathway there.

"Then it is a huge dream of mine to go to the Olympics and represent Australia."

"My parents probably deserve this article more than I do," he said.

"They deserve everything, and I wouldn't be here without them and their support.

"They put me in a hotel for three months, and dealt with me being homesick, and they're the ultimate reason why I'm here today.

"I really appreciate them."

Watters just wrapped up the second round of the competition in Perth. On February 7, he went head-to-head with Great Britain, France and New Zealand sides, marking another major milestone in his career.