IT is a big jump from playing junior rugby league in Bathurst to playing rugby union with the Queensland Reds under 20s and having Wallabies legend John Eales on speed dial.

But that is the reality though for former Bathurst talent Ben Hunt.

The impressive back rower has spent most of 2014 in Queensland studying sports and exercise science at Bond University having been awarded the John Eales Rugby Excellence Scholarship late last year.

It hasn't been all good news to date with injuries curtailing his season and limiting Hunt to just four games out of a possible 20 with the Reds under 20s and the Bond first XV.

But as he nears full fitness, Hunt is preparing for a career change as he seeks to try and break into the top levels of his sport over the coming year.

"I've been thinking about making a transition from the back row into hooker, I'm slightly stockier as far as back rowers go. Most of them are about six-foot-four or five, I'm below six-two," he said.

"In terms of supply and demand in Australian rugby, there is a bit of a lack of top level hookers, so it is something I've made up my mind about and hopefully my body allows me to pursue it."

There has been one person in particular who has been able to help Hunt with his decision and how to go about it, the man his scholarship is named after and one of the greatest back rowers Australia has produced.

"John [Eales] has been invaluable, I can ring him any time I want, speak to him about anything regarding rugby or my studies and he's always there to offer the best advice," he explained.

"He put me onto [Wallabies prop] James Slipper to have a talk to him about my potential move, as well as [ex-Wallabies hooker and captain] Phil Kearns, and both those guys have helped me so much.

"It has been amazing to be able to learn from people like that."

Two ankle surgeries this season restricted his on-field impact with Bond, but Hunt is confident that his body will allow him more game time and a better platform for next season as he tries to make the jump into the front row.

"Two weeks before the national under 20s titles I was ruled out, which was really disappointing, only getting four games for the season wasn't what I wanted," he explained.

"But Bond has a sevens team which I'll play with at a couple of tournaments coming up, one on the Gold Coast and another at University Games, so that's a good way to start my pre-season.

"I had no continuity in my preparation for the season just gone, but now I'm hopeful that I will be able to build up a good strength base and pick up my fitness for next year.

"I've still got one more year of eligibility for 20s, so I'm desperate to give it a real crack in 2014."

Hunt began his football career with St Pat's playing the 13-man code through his junior days before taking up union when he began attending Saint Stanislaus' College in Year 7.

He remained in their rugby program until he finished Year 10, when he made the move to renowned rugby school Riverview in Sydney, playing in the GPS competition.

Hunt captained the first XV there, though injury complications prevented him from having an impact at a higher level.

"I made it to the GPS side, but I broke my hand and as a result missed the NSW [Schoolboys] side, and I broke my leg too which meant I couldn't make the Australian side either," he said.

"I applied for the John Eales scholarship though I didn't really look too far into it and more or less dismissed it. I got an interview and was shortlisted, so they flew me up to Queensland.

"Just to be considered was huge, all the boys sitting around me at the interviews were captains of the rugby teams at these great schools and to be in that company was massive.

"I would recommend it to anyone who wants to give it a go, even if you don't think you're up to it, you just never know what sort of support you're going to get. For anyone with a passion for rugby, I'd recommend it for sure."