Wallaby 'incredibly proud' as brother represents Australian Deaf Rugby

Charlie Cale, a Wallabies back-rower, has always looked up to his older brother Jack, who is the vice-captain of Australia's Deaf Rugby squad. The two brothers, who grew up in Sydney's northern suburbs, have been supporting each other in various aspects of their lives, from schoolwork to rugby. Jack's passion for deaf rugby began in late 2022 when he was invited to a trial at Hunters Hill.

To his surprise, he was selected for the Australian Deaf Rugby men's squad for the World Deaf Rugby Sevens Championship in Córdoba, Argentina, in April 2023. Despite being out of peak fitness with no prior rugby training, Jack worked hard to join the Australian line-up and even served as vice-captain during the tournament, helping the team reach the final.

Now, as he prepares for Tokyo, Jack is grateful for his brother Charlie and Sam's unwavering support, as they all follow each other's rugby careers closely. Jack considers England to be the main threat in the preliminary phase of the tournament, but Australia is optimistic about advancing to the knockout rounds. Jack's participation in World Deaf Rugby tournaments is made possible by the Australian Deaf Rugby program, which aims to give every deaf and hard-of-hearing athlete the opportunity to play the game, regardless of their experience level.