U16 girls 9s team primed for national challenge
The Southland under-16 girls 9s rugby league team are hoping to create a piece of history this weekend.
A 15-strong girls team with a four-strong management team is off to Auckland to represent the province at the two-day national 9s tournament at Bruce Pullman Park.
It’s the rugby league equivalent of 7s, except it’s 9-minute halves and nine in a team.
Two under-18 teams went a couple of seasons ago, but it’s the first time an under-16 girls team has headed to the national 9s tournament.
“It’s incredibly exciting for them. They’ve been training hard and deserve this opportunity,” assistant coach Jed Leishman said.
“Our talent often gets overlooked, so we to show them it’s out there,.
The squad was picked from a local club competition in Invercargill featuring Murihuku Matatū, He Tauaa and Cowboys, with players selected in 2023 in preparation for the South Island Regional Qualifiers, where they had to finish in the top two to make nationals.
“This is the first-ever 16s girls squad Southland has sent to the national 9s and this achievement is massive for them,” manager Maima Saili said. “These girls were the young ones when the under-18s went away and I think that really opened their eyes and set a pathway for them with rugby league. It’s massive for these girls to achieve what they have.”
“It’s a great chance for these girls to experience a higher level of competition compared to down here,” Saili said.
A couple of the girls have represented their country at age grade level, giving the side plenty of experience.
Saili and Leishman said the side wasn’t going up there to make up the numbers, they want to cause some upsets.
“They are a great bunch of girls and all get on so well. We want to do our best, if we can get a win or two we’d be chuffed. I think we can,” he said.
Leishman has played a big part in helping head coach Milner Aupori prepare the girls for the tournament.
Southland District Rugby League youth development officer Kelly Lafoga said it’s exciting for the province having an under-16 team head away.
“It’s an awesome opportunity for those girls to go up there and not only show how good they are, but also represent Southland and remind everyone don’t forget about us when it comes to playing rugby league.
“Southland Rugby League are 100% behind the girls and it’s definitely a chance for them to show their skills and ability at a higher level.”
Lafoga said a few of the girls were new to the sport and they pushed Canterbury reasonably close in a game earlier in the season, so it shows they belong at national level.
Saili said when the Matatū rugby team played the Blues in Invercargill the girls got the chance to chat with Niall Guthrie, who plays both rugby and league and about the opportunities and pathways for girls and women in the sport now, which she felt was massive for them and their learnings.
The tournament is played over today and tomorrow.
“This is the first-ever 16s girls squad Southland has sent to the national 9s and this achievement is massive for them.”
Maima Saili, manager