The Camden Haven High School student will take another step on the road to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games next week in Sydney.

Clist will take to the court with the NSW Gladiators in the Fierce 4 National Rugby Championships at Sydney Olympic Park.

The talented teenager has already played his part in ensuring the NSW team progressed to the next stage with strong performances in the previous rounds of the rugby challenge.

He helped the team achieve their current number one ranking at events in Canberra, Melbourne and the Gold Coast.

Clist took up the sport four years ago by chance after attending a disability sports expo.

“They had all different types of disabled sports at the expo, but all I wanted to see was the rugby,” he said.

“Everyone asked me if I wanted to see anything else, but I was just there for the rugby so I had a go and I’ve loved it ever since.

“I really enjoy the full-contact aspect where you can hit each other.”

He is currently the world’s youngest athlete to compete at state and national wheelchair rugby level so it comes as little surprise his idol is Port Macquarie’s own Ryley Batt.

“I get to train with him once every two weeks when I can and he’s fast and he’s really good,” Clist said.

“I get a lot out of those sessions and I try to learn what he does and improve my own game.”

He said he was thrilled to be able to represent his state – a goal he didn’t think was achievable when he first started out.

​The Camden Haven High School student remains focused on making Tokyo 2020 a realistic goal, but he knows he will require hard work.

Clist wasn’t too concerned about what happened on the court in Sydney next week – he was just happy to be there.

“I don’t really care if we win or lose because it’s my first big nationals appearance so if we can get a few wins that would be even better,” he said.

The championships start next Tuesday and wrap up on Saturday.