NRL Confidential: The piece of paper setting Eels young gun apart
Parramatta Eels' Bevan French.Source: News Corp AustraliaBEVAN French has plenty to worry about on the football field at the moment.
He’s locked in an intense battle for Parramatta’s No. 1 jumper with teammate Clint Gutherson ... and possibly former Eels golden boy Jarryd Hayne, pending his arrival in the west.
But while his main focus is between the white lines, there’s plenty happening for the 21-year-old away from football.
French is about eight months away from completing his diploma of youth work, and he wants to take those studies much further.
And he isn’t waiting until he’s retired from football to begin putting his certificate to use.
The young gun has been doing plenty of work with indigenous communities and youth over the past two years, including working with Matt Bowen in their remote home town Tingha.
With the help of Telstra, he was even able to run some training clinics and information sessions with Tingha schoolchildren via video hook-up from his base in Sydney.
Then as soon as the NRL season finished he made the trip up north to conduct some clinics in person, which doubled as a holiday home to see his family.
Bevan French of the Eels celebrates a try.Source: News Corp Australia“Just recently I was part of a mentoring program through Telstra, I mentored a few kids back in Tingha from here just through Telstra’s technology,” French told foxsports.com.au.
“Live webcam sort of stuff, through TV, and taking them through some drills, then also went back there and took them through some drills as well.
“It obviously involves me going back there and visiting them.
“I’ve done a fair bit over the past 12 months ... I’ve been knocking away at my diploma of youth work as well, and part of that is practical hours.
“I’ve been going out to juvenile centres during the season, a few times a month, and going out for a couple of hours a day and running a few programs.
“I’ve done a bit away from footy in that department to help the young indigenous kids, so I’ve been pretty busy the past 12 months.
“I’m looking forward to continuing that over the next year.”
French has been joined by Parramatta teammates Suiai Matagi and Siosia Vave on his trips to youth detention centres to offer guidance to young people who may need it.
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0:44French isn’t looking too far ahead just yet, but says he would be interested in working with the NRL to continue his youth work at some point in the future.
The NRL employs ambassadors to conduct various kinds of work in the community and it’s something French would be well suited to.
“I guess it is something to think about, being an ambassador for the NRL and running healthy lifestyle programs,” French said.
“It’s something I haven’t hit on the head yet but something along those lines would make me happy.”
Replies
he is a dead set champion
I dont give a shit what these clowns do in their private time, it doesnt impress me at all, just do what your paid to do and play good footy, forget about being distracted with dopey half wit kids out on farms, just concentrate on putting some muscle on Bevan and learning how to pass FFS.
Snakey you cannot put them back in a box when they are not physically playing.
The more settled the young man is and with the satisfaction of a working life to boot is an important way for all good players to contribute and play the game.
Now I have noted on a few occasions you don't like wrapping the kid, would you prefer he went to the night clubs with Corey and his mates?
Why call him a clown......not good enough Snakey ......waky waky hands off............
PS You are a /the spiritual leader of this site......you cannot set these type of examples for the ning nongs. ......we don't want you heading off in another direction by knocking our best young players.
Your role is to mentor the site.....someone else can mentor the players.....you just need to encourage!
Flip Flops you need to put in to context your whinge.....which blog did I upset you in?
Be very careful....Fongy watches anyone that has a go at me very closely!
I like what Bevan brings to the club. He is a very good player and brings no issues to the club off the field.
I like the way that the Eels have managed him from recruitment by Anthony Field thru to BA. I like the way BA has managed his progress into the NRL and the way that he did not push him last year when he had the hamstring problem
These are good articles for the club
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