Dimity Jäeger
Last year, after 19 years with a hockey stick in hand, Dimity decided to give rugby union a go. After only about four training sessions, she had her first pre–season seven–a–side trial game.
“I was nervous and unsure of what I was doing, but the coach was very patient with me and said ‘just get the ball and run’, so that’s exactly what I did,” Dimity said, adding that she ended up scoring her first try in that game.
She was also selected to play representative rugby as part of the Darling Downs sevens side in that first year, and again this year, playing in the QLD Country Championships.
“I would love to take my rugby further in the future, possibly play in the AON Uni Sevens, wherein the Aussie sevens players compete in too,” she said.
Dimity’s father, Mick, is an old boy of the club, having won two premierships as a player and two as a coach, and having coached a Downs Rugby side to the state championship, so it’s fair to say rugby runs in her blood.
“When I told him I wanted to give hockey a break to give rugby sevens a go, he was more excited than I was,” she said.
Inheriting a competitive streak from her dad, Dimity trains hard, ensuring she’s fit enough to play. “Rugby sevens is a short game, but very fast. “With only two seven–minute halves in a game, you need to be quick, agile and fit.
“My twin sister Hayley is a personal trainer with her own gym, so she’s been helping me with my strength and conditioning training.
“I also try to gym at least three to four times a week, plus any other footy training sessions I can go to in–season.”
She said rugby sevens is on the rise among women and young girls, praising the Aussie women’s seven’s team for being great ambassadors for the sport and, generally, for women in sport.
She invites any women who are interested in playing rugby sevens, to get in touch via email at dim_jaeger@hotmail.com