The 18-year-old had both rugby codes chasing his signature and after weighing up his options, Reilly signed the dotted line on a one-year contract to join the 24-man Australian Mens Sevens squad.

Reilly accompanied his teammates on the training paddock for the first time on January 2 and he was on the sidelines for Australia’s historic victory at the Sydney Sevens last month.

The experience further fueled the South West Rocks Gaoler junior’s desire to make his debut for his country.

“The atmosphere at the Sydney Sevens was crazy, especially because they won, I was soaking it all up,” Reilly told the Argus.

“It was my first tournament, I was in the change rooms and witnessed how they all operate in the lead up to games.

“I’ve still got a lot of learning to do but hopefully I can get a call up soon.”

Reilly has little more than a month of training with the Australian Sevens side under his belt and while the chances are slim he will take the field to represent his country at the Commonwealth games on the Gold Coast in April, he hasn’t given up hope he will be called upon.

“I’m the newest player in the squad, I just have to bide my time at the moment,” he said.

“Realistically, the Commonwealth Games is probably too close to when I have joined the team to think I will be selected into the final 13 but I’ll get to be there, be a part of it all and hopefully I get to play.

“I am definitely ready to go if I get the opportunity.”

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Reilly received high praise while representing St Joseph's College in the GPS Schoolboys Rugby competition and the 2016 Rising Star competed for the Australian Boy’s team at the School Sevens in December last year.

Reilly’s starring performances for the Green and Gold gained the attention of Australian Rugby Sevens coach Andy Friend, who pursued Reilly.

The two had a conversation and Reilly committed to rugby union.

“Sevens is the right opportunity for me right now, I have a chance to train in the best training facilities and learn from professionals,” Reilly said.

“I see first-hand how the best go about their day.

“There’s things that I pick up on that I couldn’t have learned in other systems.”

The versatile back recently returned to his old stomping ground and competed in the Crescent Head Rugby Sevens for the North Central Hogs.

In the side’s opening match of the day, Reilly strolled over for a try in his first two touches of the ball and finished the 14-minute game with a hat-trick.

Reilly, who graduated high school at the end of 2017, will also commence his teaching studies with UNSW under a scholarship through the Australian Rugby Union.