The Cronulla Sharks have signed promising Australian Rugby Union Schoolboy, Tyson Frizell, for the 2010 season.

The 18-year-old was first noticed by one of the Cronulla Sharks scouts and only recently returned from the Schoolboys tour of Ireland and United Kingdom earlier this month.

“The Sharks are extremely pleased to have Tyson Frizell sign with the club,” Toyota Cup Head Coach Joey Grima said.

“He brings size, speed and from all observations an incredibly high skill level. As an 18-year-old he also displays great maturity and his willingness to learn the game of rugby league is evident.”

“He also has versatility where he can play centre, wing, fullback or in the back row and I’m really looking forward to working with him over the next 12 months and developing him into a potential NRL player.”

Frizell who attends Illawarra Sports High School was a standout in rugby union having being selected in the CHS team, NSW Schools and ultimately the Australian Schoolboys.

The cross code desperately wanted to keep the talented youngster, with the NSW Waratahs extremely interested, but it is with the Sharks that Tyson feels he can really make a breakthrough.

“I was given the opportunity to come to league and play with the Sharks and it’s something different and a new challenge and I’m always up for new challenges,” Frizell said.

“With the position I play in union, I saw myself maybe fitting into league a lot easier… I can play in the centres and also as an edge back rower.”

“I’m looking forward to playing against some of the young guns coming through the ranks and really testing myself.”

Click here to view the Sharks TV Junior Representatives video.

Hoping to eventually follow in the footsteps of Blake Ferguson, Nathan Stapleton and the likes, Frizell is looking to knuckle down at training and learn the trade before he sets his sights on an NRL birth.

“I’m not too familiar with what happened, but I’ve heard how some of the younger guys made it through to the NRL after school and I hope that later on that may happen to me.”

“But I’m just looking to cement a spot in the starting side every week. That’s what my main focus is at the moment and I’m not really worrying about where I came from, I'm just trying to work hard at training.”

“I was off training for a while and wondering what I was going to do but now I’ve put pen to paper my main focus is league and doing well for the Sharks.

Tall and well built, Frizell has already started training with the NYC squad and will play in the NYC first trial match against Manly on February 12.

“It’s been really good training with Joey (Grima).”

“He’s been great in trying to help me learn the skills base in rugby league and I haven’t really had the chance to train with Ricky but hopefully if I train well enough, then an opportunity might come up down the track and I might get a shot at having a few training sessions with them.”