Joss Church to represent Victorian Storm at National Touch League Championships

That’s because Mooroopna’s Joss Church has made the grade for the Victorian Storm men’s 20s squad taking on the National Touch League Championships from March 8 to 10.

The 18-year-old was one of 14 from the state selected to test his mettle against the best Australia has to offer, kicking off the first of six pool games at C.ex Coffs International Stadium in Coffs Harbour on Friday morning.

But it’s nothing new for Church.

This weekend’s affair is his third run out with the Victorian men’s 20s unit and before that he tore down the wing for the Storm’s 18s.

His fast break in the sport comes only years into first picking up a rugby ball, but he has his parents to thank for that.

“Really, it was all through watching my parents play,” Church said.

“Even the smell of wet grass, it just brings me back to those days of watching my dad and mum play every single Wednesday night in Shepp.”

About a decade ago Shepparton’s touch football scene was ablaze.

Church’s vision of a bustling Brauman St strip is no apparition, with a run-and-gun rugby spectacle on show every Wednesday for several years.

That was until the bubble burst and the competition folded.

Cruelly, touch football’s vanishing act from Shepparton came in the throes of Church’s coming of age to play, eligibility-wise, and his dream of joining his parents on the park was swiftly dashed.

Church remembers that moment.

“Not good,” he said.

However, when his dad discovered the Moama Echuca Touch Football competition years later it was game on again.

“Honestly, that’s really all I remember, just not being able to play. Then a couple of years later, Dad got onto his mate and said there is a comp (in Moama),” he said.

“I’d never really played touch at all, but just decided to give it a go.

I went and played over there ... (then) I got onto his old friend to go down to Melbourne and play.

“One of my Vic coaches saw me play in that first game and said ‘do you mind, we have a spot open in our men’s 20s if you really want to play’.”

Church’s rise within the game is downright meteoric — and there are no two ways about it: he is a star.

He could have settled on any number of sports to play at state level, excelling at football, triathlons and swimming in his formative years.

“I used to compete for Victoria for triathlon, I played footy for Murray Bushrangers in the under-16s program, I used to play tennis and I competed for Victoria in swimming as well,” he said.

“Cycling, running, I do it all round as well.”

So, why touch?

“The culture around it, especially just the local comps,” he said.

“Everyone can play, you rock up, you can play whatever position. That’s what I love about this sport — anyone can play.”

He is right; everyone can play touch.

However, seldom few reach the lofty heights Church has.

From touch footy in the park to the national championships, where one of his games will be beamed across Australia live on Kayo, the teen is currently bottling lightning under the Victorian Storm banner.

He knows this weekend will be another lift in class, but, like a wide-open break on the wing, he is ready to rip and tear towards the line.

“(At the championships) it’s definitely faster,” he said.

“We play Victorian touch; it’s a lot different to QLD-NSW touch. A lot faster, harder — it’s just a lot more passionate.

“I want to try and experience working in the middle more. I mainly play on the wing for my team, but hopefully a run in the middle would help my game.

“We’ve got men’s opens coming up and playing with us as well, so I’d definitely like to run in that team because they’re fast.”