AFTER the women's 2016 Olympic gold and World Sevens championship catapulted the sport into the spotlight, a new rugby tournament in Scone is hoping to draw even more attention.
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The two-day tournament on November 18 and 19 will see some of the top women’s rugby teams come face-to-face.
“As far as we know it’s the only strictly women’s sevens tournament in Australia,” coach Brad Smith said.
After a tough first year, the girls are still rearing to go and the women’s-only tournament will mean they’ll now have a platform where they are the centrepiece.
“Everywhere else you go the men are the centre of it all,” Smith said.
“We have asked for as many female referees as we can get from New South Wales Rugby to incorporate women in rugby.
“We just want to give the girls their own pedestal.”
The tournament will be split into different divisions to balance all skill levels.
“We really wanted to do something more at a grassroots level that’s inclusive of all abilities,” Smith said.
Among the 15 teams regestered to play so far are some of the most elite including the women’s NSW Fiji Rugby Union side and the Tuggeranong Vikings captained by Scone-born Kate Brown off the back of her Australian women’s rugby World Cup appearance in August.
Joining the Scone Brumbies are the more local teams from Maitland, Inverell and Armidale, who will have the chance to meet and play beside the country’s best.
“Being from a small rural town a lot of girls never get the opportunity to meet the girls on a national level,” Brad Smith said.
“Especially for a lot of younger girls that idolise those players, it’s a bit of an extra drawcard.”
Scone Brumbies captain Sally Bowe says she is looking forward to the challenge.
“Women’s sevens hasn’t been very available to anyone but then all of a sudden the women’s team won the Olympics and it’s catapulted it to become the fastest growing sport in the world,” she said.
“We are still on the lookout for teams and sponsors.
“It’s all for a good cause with fifty per cent of the profits from the front gate going back to the Country Women’s Association.”
Anyone interested in getting on board can contact Brad Smith on 0403635765 or sconerugbysevens@outlook.com.
Caitlin Reid
Caitlin Reid is a journalist at the Northern Daily Leader, focussing on a range of topics including Tamworth Regional Council, education, property and entertainment. To get in touch, email caitlin.reid@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Caitlin Reid is a journalist at the Northern Daily Leader, focussing on a range of topics including Tamworth Regional Council, education, property and entertainment. To get in touch, email caitlin.reid@austcommunitymedia.com.au
