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Rugby
women take the test
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Lieutenant
Nyree Osiek shows a clean pair of heels as her West Australian
opponent gives chase during a rugby 10s match at the ARU
tournament at Narrabeen. Photo by Michael Weaver
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AN Australian
Services Rugby Union (ASRU) women’s team took on some of the
country’s top female sides during an Australian Rugby Union
tournament at Narrabeen in Sydney from October 7-11.
The competition comprised games in 10s and 7s formats against teams
from Western Australia, ACT and a Lloyd McDermott Rugby Development
Team, which marked a first for any ASRU women’s side.
The ASRU women placed third in the respective events.
ASRU women’s coach Lieutenant Commander Rob McLauchlin from
the ADF Warfare Centre at RAAF Base Williamtown said the event was
purely a testing ground for future ASRU sides.
He said the squad of 18 players and five support staff gained a
great deal from the week of matches, winning two of their five games
in the 10s and two of five games in the 7s.
“This format gave us a chance to blood players at a competitive
level and myself and Chris Talbot (assistant coach) are certainly
keen to keep going in this direction,” LCDR McLauchlin said.
“The main thing is that the team came together very well and
improved with each game.
“The aim now is to put a development program together, with
short and long term plans for the future of women’s rugby in
the services.”
In the short term, LCDR McLauchlin is looking to an ASRU women’s
side participating in an Australian Rugby Union competition next
year, while further afield are plans for an ASRU women’s side
to tour another country.
“In the meantime, we’ll look at building the numbers of
women playing rugby in the services to give us a wider base to choose
from,” he said.
While saying that all played very well, a number of team awards
were handed out at the conclusion.
Best and fairest player was team skipper CAPT Viv Law (Army). Best
rookie was MIDN Amanda Eddy (Navy). Players’ player was CAPT
Rebecca Talbot (Army).
Special mention was also made of SPR Beth Van Dooran (Army) and
Australian Wallaroos representative LEUT Nyree Osiek (Navy) for
their efforts.
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