The Brisbane Junior Rugby Union has broken new ground in 2019, with girls representative teams heading to Sydney to contest the U15s and U17s New South Wales XVs Junior State Championships this weekend.
24 girls in both age groups have been selected, with the teams the first of their kind for girls XVs Rugby girls in Brisbane.
“The BJRU started an U15 and U17 girls team last year and they played an invitational game at Ballymore against a touring team from Sydney in both age groups,” U17s assistant coach Alisi Wilson said.
“They then explored the possibility of entering the two teams in the 2019 NSW State Championships which we’ll do this weekend and play against the NSW region-based teams.”
The two teams will play against teams from across NSW throughout the three-day tournament at Hunters Hill and Concord in Sydney.
The selected girls come from a variety of sports and backgrounds, with trials earlier in the year helping to select the two squads.
“There was a trial for the girls in the Easter school holidays and as a lead in there was also a BJRU-run 10-a-side competition for U13s, U15s, and U17s and the girls had to play in one of the affiliated clubs to be selected,” Wilson said.
“We were able to view the girls playing over a couple of weeks and then on top of the trials, we were able to pick some really talented teams.”
The representatives, their clubs and the BJRU have raised the funds to finance the trip, with barbecues, bake sales and raffles all part of the fundraising efforts.
The tournament gives the chance for the girls to play XVs, with junior girls Rugby largely confined to the Sevens format.
“The goal is to make sure that the girls coming through Rugby know all of their pathway options and aren’t just restricted to Sevens,” Wilson said.
“Since the 2016 Rio Olympics Sevens Rugby has exploded. It’s a professional sport and there’s the Aon Sevens series so there’s a visible pathway for girls to follow, particularly in Queensland with the QAS Sevens Academy.
“But not every single girl is going to be suited to the game of Sevens and because we have the Super W, the Wallaroos playing consistent test matches and the World Cup coming up, there’s another pathway available for girls who don’t necessary fit into the Sevens format.
“This tournament is a great chance for girls to experience the XVs format and enter that pathway.”
The BJRU teams will kick off their state championships campaign this Saturday, with the U17s to play five pool games and the U15s three before finals get underway on Monday.
“The teams are really excited to test themselves in a different format and against some really strong competition,” Wilson said.
BJRU U15 Girls
Skyla Adams
Azaria Brill
Zoe Cartwright
Brianna Dodds
Ashley Elekana
Alisi Fangaloka
Cienna Farthing
Georgia Flood
Tori Hayward
Leilani Koroi
Loreanna Mavaega (vc)
Seilala Otuafi
Maddie Pengelly
Sarah Qaranivalu
Miya Rapana-Faifua
Imogen Ryan
Kiarah Siauane
Malaela Su'a
Nellina Togia
Solei Tonganivalu
Athena Vili
Rhys White
Nena Williamson
Leila Wood (c)
BJRU U17 Girls
Kaieisha Afoa
Leshaye Anderson
Lowis Blake
Destiny Brill
Sarah Brown
Chloe Cocks
Jaime Cope
Rosie Ebbage
Kyla Ewart
Alana Grace
Felila Kia
Lillian Kolb
Sera Koroi (vc)
Hannah Larsson
Patti Macqueen
Luanna Moors
Grace Qaranivalu
Elaina Saluni
Nikita Sao (c)
River Smalley
Travee Transom
Jazmon Tupou-Witchman
Hollie Twidale"
