Women's Rugby Union

[Jets]

I was told, not sure how reliable the source, that the IRB are not happy with the amount of money being spent by the ARU on Women's XV's a year out from WRWC.
It would be great to have some word from the ARU about the Women's game.
I hear that the General Manager for Participation has been appointed. If they want to grow numbers then the Women's game is the easiest way to go in my eyes.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

How fertile are the fields in the AFL states for Women's Rugby?

Is there a viable Women's AFL competition or is there nothing for female athletes who desire a bit of contact in their sport?

In many respects the game is growing from scratch in the East, so much of what is working in NSW and QLD should be able to be rolled out in Vic, SA, Tas and WA as well to get the game off the ground.

 

[AngrySeahorse]

Our comp in Newcastle started in 1997. I'd say we are just getting out of the pioneering stages & are now going into the rebuild & juniors stage. In Newcastle/Hunter this means increasing school girl participation in high school. In the future I'd like to see that go straight down to primary school. There are already a handful of girls playing with the boys at juniors. As far as rebuilding goes we started with about 2 teams (well before I started), then grew to as many as 13 I think (I recall playing in the comp when we definitely had more than 10). Now we are back to 4 (nearly had 5 & have had interest from 2 other clubs). The issue we've had is getting new players, we only have one division & no juniors at club level (school girls is the closest thing we have to that). So, as a result, when a women's club team folds the club loses the women's element, this makes it harder to come back. Its not like if one of the men's grades folds they still have maybe 3-4 other grades.

I'd like to see development primarily at the grassroots level for women's rugby or at least 50/50 between rep & grassroots. Australian Rugby tends to focus top-down rather then down-up so I won't hold my breath.

I had a conversation a few years ago with a HWRU former board member who told me a bit about women's rugby development problems. The main issue seemed to be "getting set up to fail". For instance, in the beginning (& I don't know what level of Rugby this was at - state, local, etc) but there were male development officers that were paid to work on women's rugby. They went very well apparently but then handed the gig over to the women. Problem was the women development officers did not have the same financial support as the men & did not have much success. For mine, I'd like to see development officers get the same support as they did at the beginning.

One positive is that we've been running a "7 weeks of 7's" program at the beginning of the year & it seems to be bringing more teenagers & soon to be leaving schoolgirls to the 15's teams.

The semi-finals for the Newcastle/Hunter women's Rugby will be on tomorrow & I'm currently doing a write up for it in the Newcastle thread. To be completed soon

http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/community/threads/newcastle-hunter-rugby-union.7670/

 

[Jets]

While I like the idea of female DO's I would much prefer to see DO's with the sole focus being Women's rugby. I'm not sure that the ARU have the ability to look after the game and can see some benefits in the English model where the WRFU are a separate entity. Recently they have come back under the RFU umbrella but they have a separate Strat Plan for the Women's game and staff dedicated to achieving the goals.

In Brisbane my understanding is that the Women's comp started in 1994 and had a lot of teams. There are now 8 running around with 4 being competitive. I can see some benefit in splitting the season and having a div 1 finals for the top 4 teams and a div 2 finals for the bottom 4 teams. A bit like the Heartland comp in NZ. This would allow the developing teams to have a carrot for what they are achieving.

I've been really impressed with the Women's players that I've dealt with in terms of their interest in the game, dedication to becoming better and willingness to listen. They are much easier to deal with than guys at the same level.

I think we need to keep up the interest in the women's game as the more we can promote it at a grassroots level the more interest will grow in the sport.

 

[2bluesfan]

Final standings in the Sydney Comp:
Parramatta 66
Sydney University 56
Warringah 47
Rockdale 28
Penrith 9
Waverley 3

Semi Finals next week at Granville Park
Parramatta v Rockdale 2:00pm
Uni v Warringah 12:45pm

Interesting matchups - Parramatta took a while to win over Rockdale today, and Uni and Warringah can be expected to rise to the occasion.

 

[Jets]

BRUMBIES RUGBY OPEN TRAINING/SELECTION TRIALS FOR THE 2013 ACT WOMEN'S 15-A-SIDE PROGRAM
The program will consist of the following dates:
Open Training Sessions/Selection Trials
Beginning Monday 29th July
Continuing Wednesdays and Mondays 6.00pm-7.30pm
Viking Park #2, Tuggeranong
Trial Matches
Sunday 18th August
Playing Sydney Rep Side
Campbelltown, Sydney
2.30pm
Sunday 25th August
Playing NSW Country
Griffith Oval #2, Canberra
1.30pm
Possibly a further trial match on the weekend of the 14th/15th September
(Yet to be confirmed)
2013 National Women’s 15-a-side Championships
Wednesday 25th –Saturday 28th September
St Ignatius College, Riverview
Tambourine Bay Rd,
Lane Cove, Sydney
Team will be departing Canberra at approx. 8am Wednesday
Team will be arriving back in Canberra at approx. 6.30pm Saturday
Other Information
Cost of the program will be approx. $360 per person, which will cover all team uniform, transport, and everything at the Championships. This Levy may be reduced depending on the amount of money raised by the team raffle that will be conducted during the program.
The squad for the National Championships will be named on Monday 2nd September 2013.
To be eligible for the program you must be over 16 years of age on the 1st January 2013.
For more information please contact Caitlin Ryan (Manager) at c.ryan@brumbies.com.au or phone (02) 6283 8519

2013 ACT & SOUTHERN NSW WOMEN'S CLUBS
ADFA Manager: Sylvia Rienks
Email: sylvia.rienks@student.adfa.edu.au
Contact Number: 0434 530 393
JindabyneManager: Mike Swinney
Email: mick.swinney@perisher.com.au
Contact Number: 02 6459 4645
Royals (South Canberra / Phillip)Manager: Erin Da Deppo
Email: Erin.Dadeppo@dbcde.gov.au
Contact Number: 02 6271 1349
Uni-Norths Owls (North Canberra, UC & ANU)Manager: Nicole Harrison
Email: nicole.harrison1@uqconnect.edu.au
Contact Number: 0428 770 988
Queanbeyan
Manager: Kristina Erwin
Email: kristinaerwin@ymail.com
Contact Number: 0406 486 730
Narooma
Manager: Paddy Penton
Email: naroomarugby@gmail.com
Contact Number: 0412 430 384

From the Brumbies site.

 

[Jets]

Queensland Women's team annouced for National Championships​

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No caption provided​

Queensland are the reigning National Women’s Rugby Champions. Women’s Rugby in Queensland continues to go from strength to strength, both in Brisbane and regionally.

Healthy club competitions in Brisbane and some of our regional centres have meant the standard of play has increased dramatically. Competition for the coveted Queensland jersey is fierce, and the chance to represent their state at the National Carnival in September has driven the girls to train and play harder than ever before. The squad has been selected not only on form during club games, but also after a series of open squad sessions and a recent representative fixture between Cairns and Townsville.
Some extremely good players have been unfortunate this year and have missed selection. Special mention must go to:
Winona Base, Mele Akuila, Meg Ward, Madi Schuck, Amelia Kuk, and Amelia Neagle from Brisbane, and Aster Naden, Ashleigh Sushames and Belinda Davis from Cairns, who were all extremely unlucky not to have made the cut.
Thank you to everyone who has attended the sessions so far this year, and the very best of luck to all the girls competing in the coming finals series throughout Queensland.

The Queensland Squad for the 2013 Women’s Rugby Nationals:
Alex Bannon
Hayley Barclay
Tricia Brown
Cheyanne Campbell
Lizzy Campbell
Saxon Campbell
Delena Dennison
Maryanne Fauimo
Delwyn Fraser
Tess Gardner
Amy Gilbert
Nella Hake
Mel Kawa
Ivy Kaleta
Nareata Masters
Terisa Noble
Liz Patu
Renea Piri
Lizzy Pou
Osaka Ono
Kirby Sefo
Delyse Taulaulelei
Moana Virtue

Shadow players are:
Serena Tuquri
Jane Elikia
Katrina Lee
Teri Rasolea
Afi Melesia
Keenan Curran
Natalia Moors
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Please note shadow players will be required to train with the squad up until the second week in September.​

 

[2bluesfan]

Congratulations to the Parramatta Womens team who won their semi-final against Rockdale 34-10, setting up a grand final against Warringah who beat Sydney Uni 34-29.

Should be a cracker of match at Rat Park next Saturday, 2PM kickoff.

 

[2bluesfan]

Media Release from NSWRU re Sydney Womens Grand Final:
Parramatta and Warringah women to contest Sydney Grand Final


26/08/2013
By NSWRU Media Unit

Warringah takes on Parramatta in an earlier game​

The Sydney Women’s Rugby Union Grand Final will be contested this Saturday, August 31, at Pittwater Rugby Park.
Last weekend’s tightly fought semi-finals saw Parramatta defeat this year’s big improvers Rockdale by 34-10, whilst third-placed Warringah overcame Sydney University 34-29 to claim the other grand final position.

Minor Premiers Parramatta are after that elusive first Premiership, whilst reigning premiers Warringah have won the prestigious Jack Scott Cup an impressive eight times since 2003.

Event details:

Sydney Women's Rugby Union
2013 Jack Scott Cup
Parramatta v Warringah
Saturday 31 August
Pittwater Rugby Park, kick off 2pm

For more information go to the Sydney Women's website.




Source:http://www.nswrugby.com.au/NSWRugby/News/NewsArticle/tabid/374/ArticleID/10105/Default.aspx

 

[Hugh Jarse]

What has happened to the Sydney Uni Women's team?

Didn't they have a very long unbeaten run which ended last year?

Are they rebuilding, or is the Mighty 2 Blues team simply awesome?

 

[Jerusalem]

What has happened to the Sydney Uni Women's team?

Didn't they have a very long unbeaten run which ended last year?

Are they rebuilding, or is the Mighty 2 Blues team simply awesome?

I was wondering this just today!

 

[2bluesfan]

I've watched Uni a couple of times this year - they have a fine team and they are a credit to their coach (and themselves). Their record against Parra this year was one of each possible result over the three rounds - one win, one loss and one draw, and they were very unlucky not to have had two wins as they missed an after-the-bell-coversion attempt to win the match in the drawn game. In 2013 they are the only team to have beaten Parra. Hopefully this will still be the case after Saturday's GF.

There's no doubt that Warringah have been the measuring stick for a long time with Uni not far behind (they only lost their semi-final 29-34 after all). But this Parra team are focused and also well coached and I have a good feeling about this match. Having said that, Warringah love this time of the year and I expect the GF to be an absolute cracker of a match.

Certainly worth a trip out to Rat Park (free entry).

 

[HodgoBerro]

What has happened to the Sydney Uni Women's team?

Didn't they have a very long unbeaten run which ended last year?

Are they rebuilding, or is the Mighty 2 Blues team simply awesome?

Uni were missing several key players in the lead up to the finals as well. I witnessed a 39-0 drubbing to Rockdale a few weeks ago and spotted 90% of their starting forward pack sitting on the sidelines with injury.

 

[AngrySeahorse]

I'll be writing up the Grand Final preview for the Newcastle/Hunter women's comp soon tonight - its on tomorrow. Wanderers v University. I'll have the summary from the other women's finals prior. Hopefully I'll end up getting photos this time as last time I got hooked into a job while there - as it tends to happen with club Rugby!

When I have it done the reviews will appear here http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/community/threads/newcastle-hunter-rugby-union.7670/page-10

 

[2bluesfan]

Congratulations to the Warringah Ratettes who won an exciting Sydney Womens Rugy Grand Final 20-11 over a gallant Parramatta Two Blues team. Warringah dominated possession for the first 60 minutes until a serious injury to one of the Parramatta players necessitated a long break as the ambulance attended. The Two Blues women surged after this to bring the score back to 13-11. Warringah too good on the day and Parra will be ruing a below-par performance particularly in their set-piece but all credit to Warringah, deserved winners on the day.

 

[happyjack]

Sunnybank will play Redlands in the Qld Women's GF.
Redlands will be decimated when the Australia 7s girls relocate to NSW next year so they will be keen as.

 

[cg26]

Uni were missing several key players in the lead up to the finals as well. I witnessed a 39-0 drubbing to Rockdale a few weeks ago and spotted 90% of their starting forward pack sitting on the sidelines with injury.

This was very much the case, along with some retiring older players. They also lost to Warringah in the grand final last year, and the perception was that Warringah always lift a lot for the finals - partly in terms of having their experienced rep players present, but I don't know enough to say that was the case this year. Or to put it another way, Warringah underplay a little during the year.

I would have liked to see a Parramatta win but maybe next year.

Great to see the top 4 being so close.

 

[2bluesfan]

The Womens Rugby community, and the general Rugby community, has been seen at its best this week. The seriously injured player I referred to in post #275 was one of our younger players, not quite 16 years old. She suffered a compound break to her leg and was taken to Mona Vale hospital, quite a long way from our home area. Warringah players and officials have been fantastic in "adopting" the young girl while she has waited for her second operation (late this afternoon). They have visited her on a number of occasions and all at Parra are grateful for their kindness. Pure class.

 

[Jets]

That's terrible news for the young lady. Hopefully the operation went well and she has a speedy recovery.

Good work by the Warringah team. This is the rugby spirt in action.

I have noticed that the Women's players seem to socialise a lot more with other teams than the men. In Brisbane it is not unusual for the girls to all get together and have a meal with the other team after the games. I think that a lot of guys could learn a thing or two from that. It makes the whole experience more enjoyable.

 

[Jets]

I went out and watched the Women's final at Ballymore on Saturday at 8:30am. It was well worth the effort as it was an enthralling game. The defence on show was something else and that was reflected in the score line with Redlands coming out on top 7-6 over the previously undefeated Sunnybank.

Sunnybank lead 3-0 at half time and were ahead 6-0 with just over 5 mins to go. I thought Sharni Williams was impressive at 12 for Redlands making a couple of good breaks late in the game.

The 2 teams make up the bulk of the Qld team that will head down to Sydney at the end of the month for the National Champs. I'd expect a few of the ladies to be in the Wallaroo's squad for the World Cup next year.