Top rugby women put skills on show
THE Gold Coast’s top female rugby union talent will compete against the best of the state in weekly competition for the first time in 2020.
Bond University are set to capitalise on the success of their Rugby Sevens program by launching a full team into a new-look Queensland Premier Rugby women’s division.
All nine Premier clubs will be represented in the competition after Bond University and Easts committed to fielding teams this year.
Bond’s inaugural women’s 15-a-side coach Lawrence Faifua said the benefits of launching the team would extend beyond rugby alone.
“You see how Rugby Sevens has taken off and now XVs (is following suit),” Faifua said.
“By putting a Gold Coast team into the competition it’s going to help female players move along their pathway.
“The Gold Coast have a really talented bunch of females that are playing rugby and rugby league so anything that is boosting pathways for them
BY PUTTING A GOLD COAST TEAM INTO THE COMPETITION IT’S GOING TO HELP FEMALE PLAYERS MOVE ALONG THEIR PATHWAY
BOND COACH LAWRENCE FAIFUA
is awesome.”
Faifua will make up onehalf of a decorated coaching roster that includes program co-ordinator Setu Naseri.
The two coaches have climbed the ranks to be recognised as some of Queensland’s most successful in the women’s rugby sphere.
Translating their successes from Bond’s AON University Sevens Series to 15-a-side rugby will benefit the club in both formats, Faifua said.
“It’s a massive difference between the games, where one relies heavily on contact and the other is moving the ball to avoid contact,” he said.
“One of the things we did lack in AON with Bond was physicality, especially compared to the Sydney teams who regularly play both.
“Hopefully bringing those skills from XVs will help girls with their sevens aspirations as well.”
Queensland Reds standouts Kirby Sefo, Cobie-Jane Morgan and Courtney Hodder will lead the team from the front, though opportunities for young stars to step up will present immediately.
A timing clash with the
Super W season will see Bond’s representative stars miss the opening two weeks of competition. Faifua says expectations will be high with a talented group but allowing young players to develop will take time.
“I won’t lie, I’ve still got expectations that we reach the top four but that’s my competitive streak. Realistically, looking at it from what we’re doing and that’s building a base and a solid foundation to bring the younger crew through. There will be bumps in the road but I’m hoping we’ll go OK and feature in the finals somewhere.”