Sevens heaven: schoolgirls try to tackle rugby stereotypes
Dominic Bossi
March 13, 2012
THE first thing the girls at Prairiewood High School in Wetherill Park do at 7am on a Monday morning is flock to the school's rugby union program in the hope of forming one of the first schoolgirls sevens teams in NSW.
While the team does not have any opponents to play, the 70 girls from years 7 to 11 will stick with the sport which is giving them greater self-confidence - and carries the prospect of competing at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
Since the program began last month, the participation rate has more than doubled as the girls are flourishing in a sport traditionally dominated by men.
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''Personally I love the tackling, it's so fun. You can take out your anger, but that's not the point of it,'' year 11 student Stefanie Italiano said. ''I like expressing myself through sports and I'm not exactly the most confident person, so this is a great way to boost your self esteem and a different way of expressing yourself.''
With the introduction of womens' sevens rugby in the 2016 Olympics, the growth of the game is being strongly endorsed by the Australian Rugby Union, which visited the school yesterday.
But the girls maintain their immediate priorities are to have fun and prove they can be just as good as their male counterparts.
''Mainly it's because we want to break that stereotypical barrier, so we've done that to show that we are able to do it,'' year 9 student Alice Tieu said.
The girls are being encouraged by their school, which is trying to alleviate parents' concerns about the dangers associated with the game. As sevens rugby does not pose the same ruck and maul dangers as the 15-a-side game, Prairiewood staff believe it is no more dangerous than other more typical female sports.
''Netball causes more knee and ankle injuries than any other sport, so if you play netball, you're already playing a more dangerous sport,'' coach Jarred Hodges said.
New principal Alan Maclean will continue to support the initiative and promote the safety of the sport.
''I think a lot of families and parents would feel that getting their girls involved in rugby is not what they would normally want because they see it as a men's sport,'' he said. ''I think programs like this, showing the fitness and fun side of it, is a way to alleviate some concerns.''
The only competitive game time these girls could experience this year will be in a one-off gala day, although a handful of the school's best will be eligible for a combined NSW team that will take part in the annual interstate competition on the Gold Coast.
