Highland dancing openside makes SI team
Rugby mad dancer Jorja Miller stands out among the boys.
The 12-year-old was the only South Canterbury player named in the under 65kg South Island team after the annual tournament.
Playing on the openside flank, Miller had an impressive three-day tournament despite her side going winless in five games.
Two other players, No.8 David Edh and first five Fletcher Boraman, also stood out, but in the end only Miller made the selectors’ cut.
Miller is not your typical player; her other passion is Highland dancing, which she also excels at, passing her grade four exam with honours.
The talented allrounder gives both passions top priority.
On one occasion in Waimate, she danced at a competition, played rugby for Harlequins, and raced back to the hall to compete on stage with muddy knees.
Dancing has been good for her rugby: she believes it helps with the footwork she needs to beat players on the paddock.
Her favourite part of the game is tackling her usually bigger opponents, and running with the ball.
Being named in the under 65kg South Island team set up a unique double for Miller. Last year, she was one of only two girls to make the South Island under 48kg side, after the tournament in Timaru.
The Kaiapoi tournament was her last primary school event before heading to Timaru Girls’ High School next year.
She will be available for one more year of mixing it with the boys at under 13 level. She will again turn out for Harlequins, a side she captained this season.
Miller’s passion and skill at the game is no real surprise as she comes from a rugby mad family.
Dad Craig played more than 200 games for Harlequins seniors while mum Tracey was no slug when it came to rugby either, having played in the South Canterbury women’s team while her older brothers, Corin and Deon, both play rugby.
No-one blinked an eye when Jorja pulled on the boots at age 4. Miller said she played rugby because it was fun, like dancing.
Miller’s appearances in greenand-black continues a girls’ tradition in age-group rugby sides with the likes of Haile Hurring, Dana Mulcahy and Lucy Anderson, before her.
Anderson plays in the Canterbury women’s NPC side and was in the wider Black Ferns training squad.
Two South Canterbury boys, Taine Cordell-Hull and Ben Johnston, did make the under 48kg South Island side.
Their side managed one win at the tournament upsetting Canterbury Metro 22-17.