LEAGUE BOYS’ PERFECT UNION
A TEAM of Queensland state champion league players are weighing up a mass code switch after experiencing rugby union for the first time via rugby sevens.
The core of the Coomera Cutters league side that claimed September’s state under-9s title in Proserpine – the Paul Bowman Challenge – have now set their sights on silverware in rugby.
Competing under the Level Up banner and coached by former New Zealand touch football star Lambros To’omaga, the team has raced into the finals of the seven-week Nerang 7s despite playing up an age division at their first tournament.
Coach To’omaga said his players have enjoyed rugby so much they were looking into taking up club action in 2020.
“(The Nerang Summer 7s Series tournament) was being used as preseason training because their first preference was rugby league but that’s now changed,” To’omaga said.
“The kids are learning so much about the game and the technical stuff that they love the union game much better now.”
The players’ league and touch football backgrounds have translated fluently into the new code but To’omaga says winning is only an afterthought for the youngsters.
“The skills and values they are learning can transfer beyond sport and into the rest of their lives,” he said.
“Winning isn’t our ultimate goal, it’s just the bonus.”
The Level Up under-10s will contest the Nerang Summer 7s Series finals today alongside 35 other teams across a range of ages.