GIVEN the success of the Australian women’s side at the Rio Olympics, it’s almost inconceivable to think country rugby wouldn’t jump on the Rugby Sevens bandwagon to boost female participation in the sport.
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With just five teams in last year’s women’s premiership – Mudgee, Orange Emus, Cowra, Bathurst Bulldogs and Narromine, while Temora and Cootamundra boasted smaller outfits in the GrainCorp Cup’s southern conference – Central West Rugby Union chief executive officer Peter Veenstra says adopting the sevens format in this area for the 2017 season was a serious option – it has to be.
“Absolutely, we would be (silly not to consider it),” Veenstra said.
“We’re considering all of our options at this point, and that’s sevens, 10s and 15-a-side formats, it’s just about surveying what the clubs would like headed into the season.”
Central West Rugby Union sent under 15s and under 17s girls’ sides to the sevens state championships at Coffs Harbour last weekend.
The Central West under 15s girls finished their campaign in eighth after playing eventual winners West Harbour Junior Rugby Club in the sudden-death quarter-finals stage.
An age group that could immediately flow into any women’s competition in the Blowes Clothing Cup, the Central West under 17s girls finished fourth after losing their semi-final.
Eventual winners were Liverpool City Cougars.
Nick McGrath
Editor, Central Western Daily
Editor, Central Western Daily
