The Cowra Eagles are looking to improve women’s numbers ahead of their March 2 10s Tournament, by running a weekly clinic in the weeks leading up to the event.
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Jarrod Simpson, a development officer with the NSW Waratahs, will be leading the sessions.
All prospective players, experienced or novices, are welcome, though with the caveat that they must be over the age of 17, due to the 10’s tournament being played under adult game laws.
Cowra Eagles resident Ian Robertson said that he was excited to welcome more women into the club, emphasising the open nature of the training sessions.
“[It’s] training and have-a-go type stuff,” he said.
He added that the Eagles’ move to improve women’s numbers broadly, not just in the 10’s tournament, is part of a broader Central West Rugby push to improve the inclusiveness of the competition across the region.
“[In 2018], Central West had a refocus on women’s rugby whereby teams played every week for the entire season,” Robertson explained.
“[There was a] post-season Seven’s competition and it looks like the number of teams in 2019 could be in the vicinity of 16 or 17 clubs.
““The importance of the development of that part of the game aligned with the fact that Women’s Sevens is an Olympic sport,” Robertson added.
Players such as Inge Visser have gone on to compete in Super W rugby after starting out at Cowra, playing with the Eagles for several season.
Meanwhile, Lily-Ann Spicer recently was selected as part of the Central West’s representative tour.
Robertson said Cowra have been one of the leading Women’s teams in the West, and a steady grower in terms of playing numbers.
“Cowra was one of the foundation women’s club in the Central West. [It] won a grand final in 2016, played in a grand final in 2017, and played again in Semi’s in 2018.”
The training sessions, as run by Simpson, will take place February 13, 20 and 27, taking place from 6 pm, leading into the 10s fixture.
10s Tournament
Described as the “oldest Ten’s tournament in Australia,” Cowra’s New Holland 2019 Twilight Tens Tournament contains a men’s and women’s competition, with matches running from 9 am to 10 pm in all-day marathon that works a prelude for regular season rugby.
Teams will travel from metropolitan and regional areas for the event, and are encouraged register their nominations as soon as possible.
