Queensland Rugby Union (QRU) in partnership with the Catholic Secondary School Girls Sports Association (CaSSSA), have launched a new eight-week program which sees high school students from across Brisbane introduced to Rugby 7s in both a training and match environment.
The program which kicked off at the beginning of February at Norths Rugby Club for girls in years seven and eight, includes students from Lourdes Hill, Our Lady’s College, Bridgidine, Stuartholme, Mary Mackillop, Mt Alvernia, St John Fisher, Mount St Michael’s and St Rita’s, with over 100 participants across the schools.
Across the first four weeks of the program, the students will undergo training sessions led by QRU Community Rugby staff, where the will focus on the fundamentals of the game including positioning, tracking, tackle safety and game awareness, before teams are then formed and the schools come together to compete against each other.
The program has been developed off the back of the CaSSSA Rugby Sevens Gala Day which took place in September last year, and is designed to cater for existing players while also welcoming new participants to the game in a fun and safe environment.
Queensland Rugby State Development Manager Grant Dwyer said: “Rugby 7s is one of the world’s fastest growing sports and it’s great to be able to continue our partnership with CaSSSA and offer the opportunity for students to learn the game in training sessions before then taking their learnings and applying them in regular matches.
“Approximately two-thirds of the current Australian Women’s 7s squad hail from Queensland and there is plenty of opportunity on the horizon for women in Rugby including a Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, a home Rugby World Cup and of course the Brisbane Olympics in 2032.
“Current Australian 7s stars including Charlotte Caslick, Madi and Teagan Levi and Dominque du Toit all began their Rugby 7s pathway whilst in high school competing at Queensland Rugby Schools 7s events.
“The players we’re currently working with could be starting their journey that will see them pull on the green-and-gold jersey here in 2032 in front of a home crowd.
“We hope that CaSSSA continues to work with us and through further collaboration, we see Rugby 7s introduced as an established trimester sport.”
With over 50 Q7s events set to take place around Queensland in 2023, the hope is that the CaSSSA schools taking part in this program will be regular participants with an eye towards the All Schools 7s tournament, Queensland’s biggest school age 7s event.
For more information on how schools can get involved in Rugby Sevens in 2023, visit: https://qld.rugby/participate/play/sevens-rugby/q7s
To find your nearest Rugby club, use the ‘find a club’ tool: https://australia.rugby/participate/find-a-club
