How new Wallaby Harry Potter earned his own place in the pages of history

Potter was a big hit at the Tigers and played in their 2021-22 premiership season. Then-England coach Eddie Jones had his eye on the English-qualified Sydney Uni pair at the Tigers – Potter and Guy Porter – and the latter ended up making his Test debut.

But Potter always had his eye on a Wallabies jersey, and he returned to Australia in late 2023 to play for the Western Force.

“I wanted to come back to Australia, partly because I wanted to play for the Western Force, but largely because you can’t play for the Wallabies unless you are playing rugby in Australia,” he said.

“I would say a fair component of that was wanting to play for the Wallabies, so I am grateful for that to have happened, or fingers crossed, two more days.”

Good form early in the 2024 Super Rugby season put Potter on Schmidt’s radar, but injury ruined his season. It was then another overseas moment that proved influential in Potter getting a Wallabies squad call-up for the spring tour, when he impressed for the Force on their off-season tour of South Africa.

“I thought that when I got in the squad, it’s nice to get in the squad but getting in the team is another thing really,” he said. “It’s great to help the team and get in the squad, but I was pretty keen to get my go. I am really excited to have the opportunity and grateful the coaches have given me that.”

It was the worldly experience of Potter that convinced Schmidt he would be ready for a debut against Scotland at Murrayfield on Monday morning (AEDT).

“It is an epic place to play,” Potter said. “The fans are going to come into play. It’s going to be loud and a big occasion, and as big a game for Scotland as it is for us.”

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They will probably never go away entirely, but the magician and wizard cracks and puns he’s heard a thousand times may now start to taper off given Potter is a Test rugby player, and has made his own name.

Before the tour started, Potter said – through slightly gritted teeth – he still found the jokes funny and even admired the originality of the “You’re a Wallaby Harry” headline that’s now been rolled out a couple of times. He said James Slipper dubbed him the Wizard early.

But Wallabies teammates now just know him as him “Potts”. The curse may have lifted.

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