Changes to build on success of first season

THE Gold Coast’s girls rugby sevens competition will be merged into a single-season format in 2019 as efforts are made to build on its maiden year.

Gold Coast District Rugby Union board member Col Johnson confirmed the change would be implemented, with under-13, 15 and 17 championships to be complemented by three standalone carnival days.

“We’re going to have two come-and-try days on the 16th and 30th of March and they are going to be aimed at the girls who have never played before to come and have a run,” Johnson said.

“We don’t really expect the experienced girls to come and compete on those days but we’re certainly welcoming them along to help introduce girls to the sport.

“Then we will be going into the Friday night competition and that will only be one comp this year. What we’re hoping to do is make that more structured and have a pointscore and make it a championshiptype event.”

The season-proper will start on May 3 and will run through to a grand final date that will partner up with the 15-a-side junior grand finals in August.

Bond Pirates, Nerang and Livingstone College are expected to be added to the junior competition, joining incumbent teams such as Palm Beach Currumbin, Surfers Paradise, Helensvale, Coomera, Lennox Head and Miami State High School.

The Cyclones have won the under-15 and under-17 state championships the past two years and Johnson said the district are striving to continue to be a leading force.

“We’re really doing our best to place the Gold Coast as the competition of choice in and around southeast Queensland and northern NSW,” he said.