Rebels centre Campbell Magnay has long been considered a Wallabies prospect but he might be beaten to he punch by younger brother, Will, when it comes to national sporting glory.
Basketball player Will, 21,has grabbed headlines with his performances in the NBL for the Brisbane Bullets and the NBA buzz around him seems to be growing with each week.
Both brothers have carved their way up the sporting ranks in recent years - Campbell starred for the Junior Wallabies in 2015 and 2016 and loomed as a prodigious talent after signing with the Reds.
Considered an outside chance of Wallabies selection, Magnay surprised plenty of people when he signed a deal to head to Japan’s Suntory Sungoliath.
He played there for two seasons before returning to Australia with the Rebels and it is from here that he is hoping to mount his case for Test duty.
While Campbell was plying his trade across the rugby globe, Will’s basketball career began to take off.
After spending his final years of school training at the AIS, Will won a scholarship with the University of Tulsa in Oklahoma.
After two years in America, he opted to sign a deal with the Bullets, seeing the NBL as a better pathway to his ultimate dream of playing for the Boomers and joining a growing list of Aussies in the NBA.
Should both brothers reach their dreams of international success, it would be the pinnacle of a long road of work.
The Magnays, who also have a sister, grew up playing every sport they could but it was rugby league and rugby that took up most of their time.
While they have always been lose, Campbell admits their competitive nature sometimes got the best of them, even when it wasn’t exactly sport that they were facing off in.
“We played a lot of spot and a lot of video games but there were a lot of fights as you can imagine, plenty of fights so Mum and Dad sometimes had to keep us a bit separate,” he laughed.
“Back in the day, would've been Call of Duty that we played most.
“He was much better than me, much more skillful - I'd never let him know, it was always the controller's fault.”
When Will broke his collarbone playing rugby at Brisbane’s Nudgee College, the basketball coach saw an opportunity to pounce on the promising and the younger Magnay has never looked back.
“We played rugby league together, he was two years below me, but played a lot of rugby league and then in about year nine he broke his collarbone and the basketball coach picked him up and then he's gone on from there,” Campbell recalled.
It’s a journey that even Campbell admits he has been surprised at, not always expecting Will to be a success in his new sport.
“When he first crossed over I just thought he didn't like the contact in rugby but it was definitely a very good move from him,” he recalled.
“Over the last few years, he's really improved and it's very entertaining to watch.”
Based in Melbourne, Campbell tries to watch Will whenever the Bullets are in town and is one of his biggest supporters.
Will’s form was rewarded recently with selection in his first Boomers squad and he is considered a high prospect of being picked in the NBA summer league.
Campbell is hoping to launch his own international bid with an injury-free season at the Rebels after some unfortunate setbacks in recent years.
The centre had offseason ankle surgery to finally fix a niggling problem he picked up in Japan and has his sights set on a starting spot in Super Rugby in 2020.
He stayed in Australia while the Rebels played their first round clash against the Sunwolves but is expected to be in the mix for Friday night’s clash with the Brumbies.
Once he works his way back into the 23, Magnay wants to ensure he stays there.
“I had a major injury when I was in Japan and I just needed it fixed and this was the perfect time to do it so hopefully I’m good to go and no more injuries.
“I’m just looking for a bit of consistency this year.
‘The starting XV is the main goal for the Rebels and then just a consistent, injury-free year is definitely the target.”
The Rebels take on the Brumbies at GIO Stadium on Friday February 7, kicking off at 7:15pm AEDT, LIVE on FOX SPORTS, Kayo and via RUGBY.com.au RADIO. Buy tickets here.
