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It’s been a meteoric rise, to say the least. While Dolly’s father always thought he was destined to turn his passion into a career, even he wasn’t expecting a phone call in the middle of the night to learn of the news.
Nic Dolly playing for Eastwood juniors.
“His brother rang me at 2am and woke me up. He’s also over there playing rugby for Doncaster,” Dolly told the Herald.
“I thought ‘Oh, shit, something’s gone wrong’. I raced to the phone and it was Alex. He said Nic’s been selected.
“I haven’t actually spoken to Nic yet. I sent him a text early this morning. He’s been inundated, I would imagine, and dad gets last dibs. Which is pretty standard, right?”
As far as Dolly is aware, his son has never had any contact with Rennie or Rugby Australia director of rugby Scott Johnson, which is perhaps understandable given he was playing for Jersey this time last year.
But Dolly does believe a “narrow” pathway to the top of Australian rugby drove Nic to the UK.
Dolly scores a try during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby match between Worcester Warriors and Leicester Tigers.Credit:Getty
“The pathways here are not as wide. It’s a very narrow pathway. If you don’t get into Gen Blue [NSW academy] early – into that narrow pathway – that’s it,” Dolly said.
“In England, the pathway is so wide and there are so many roads leading into that national side.
“Was he disappointed? Who wouldn’t be? He wanted to make it and to not get a gig at NSW Schools and know you were as mobile as he was and be told his work rate was down, it was deflating. But Nic’s a positive bloke.
“I just think the opportunity was there, and he grabbed it. All power to him.”
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Only the 22-year-old will know whether he would have declared his allegiance to the Wallabies if Rennie came calling.
But even if his son is wearing the white No. 2 jersey against the Wallabies at Twickenham, Dolly won’t be singing Swing Low, Sweet Chariot.
“I’m a convict. I’ll have an English shirt on, but an Australian scarf,” he said.
“I’m proud that I’m an Australian and that can’t be taken way. However, I want him to score a try against Australia. I want him to be man of the match in a losing team, absolutely.”
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