BOND LEADS PUSH FOR PRO RUGBY PATHWAY
IN WHAT could prove to be a “crucial” milestone in the push towards a professional women’s rugby pathway, Bond University will have the chance to fight for the mantle of the nation’s best.
The Bull Sharks will take on NSW club Gordon in the inaugural Australian Club Championship for the female game on the back of a breakout campaign that garnered every trophy they had on offer.
Bond cemented themselves as a Queensland force last year in just the third year of the women’s premier rugby competition, claiming the 15-aside title as well as wins in the Rugby 7s format.
Such is the university’s commitment to strengthening women’s rugby, it provided $10,000 in support in order for Gordon to play in the Championship.
And now that the national championship has been announced, Bull Sharks director of rugby Luca Liussi said the formation of these elite level pathways could be the stepping stone needed to push towards a paid outlet at the top.
As it stands the women of the Super W receive little to no payment for their exploits as the game continues to grow.
However, as the likes of rugby league and Australian rules football expand their salary packages for clubs, a challenge has emerged in retaining talent in the 15-woman code.
Liussi said an event of this nature could prove a key cog in kickstarting a similar revolution in rugby union by ensuring players at the grassroots remain engaged with an eye on success.
“It’s crucial that people know about it, crucial people see it,” he said.
“There’s some really good rugby being played, this is actually showcasing a sport that is played and exciting to watch.
“It’s crucial that we have these kind of events and pathways, because there’s a lot of girls playing really good football and not all will have the opportunity to play Super Rugby.
“Who knows where the program goes moving forward, but a national club competition in some form I think is crucial for both games to sit underneath the Super Rugby competition.
“This game I think is a stepping stone definitely for the women’s pathways and gives the girls who aren’t in Super Rugby an opportunity to play at an interstate level and for us to showcase that this is a great spectator sport.
“A lot of teams and a lot of clubs around the country are investing more and more in their women’s programs which is fantastic. To be able to in its (Queensland Women’s Premier Rugby) third year be involved in this and instigate this opportunity is awesome for the women’s game.”
Both Bond and Gordon are expected to receive their Super W and Wallaroos players for the March 4 encounter at Brisbane’s Sci-fleet Stadium. The showcase will coincide with the men’s annual club championship contest between Wests and Sydney University.
“There’ll be some new girls from Bond and we’ll be fielding the best team we’ve got,” Liussi said.
“It will be a bit of a mix of experience and I guess girls who are young but have had premier rugby experience during last year. Having to manage 15s and 7s, a lot of the girls even new to the game got a lot of opportunities to play premier rugby in the absence of some of our rep players.
“We want to be crowned the best in the country … I hope this is the first of a really strong tradition of the national club championship for women.”