Sunshine Coast schoolgirls south v north matchup

Coaches have named their key players as the best young female union talents north and south of the Maroochy River face off for a curtain raiser at the Sunshine Coast Stadium.

An inaugural Sunshine Coast South v North schoolgirls rugby union match will kick off on Saturday with some of the region’s best young talents to take to the field.

It will kick off at Sunshine Coast Stadium at 3.30pm, Saturday, July, 23, and will serve as a curtain raiser to the Rugby World Cup 2023 Asia Pacific Playoff between Tonga and Hong Kong.

The players are aged 16 to 18-years-old and were selected depending on their school location both South and North of the Maroochy River, with a number of state and national players to join the squads.

Sunshine Coast secondary schools rugby union president Luke Parnemann said he was looking forward to the event.

“I thought it deserving, that with girl’s rugby going gangbusters on the Coast, that they get the opportunity to showcase their skills,” he said.

Teams are made up of eight schools both South and North of the Maroochy River.

The South team taking part in the inaugural South v North Sunshine Coast schoolgirls rugby union match.

Former Wallabies player and south coast coach Blake Enever said it was an exciting concept.

“I think it’s awesome and I think any opportunity for the girls to play 15-a-side is very exciting,” he said.

“It’s obviously another challenge for them but I think it could make for a really exciting rivalry for the future.”

Lilli Guilfoyle, Keely Jackson and Kiera Dunbar have been named as some of the players to watch. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Enever said the players would relish the opportunity to play against and alongside players from different schools.

“Just from hearing them talk at training there’s definitely some players that they are keen to play against and to challenge themselves to also play alongside some players they might not have had the chance to before,” he said.

“Lila Parr is a really good fly half prospect from Chancellor State College and also Lilli Guilfoyle as a froward from Sunshine Coast Grammar is one that I think has a lot of potential.”

North Coast head coach Matthew Gardiner said he was thankful to be involved.

“Schoolgirls Sunshine Coast rugby union has gotten massive in the last few years and this game is a bit of a pinnacle for some of those players,” Gardiner said.

“I’d say some players to watch from the North team would be Kiera Dunbar, Keely Jackson and Lily Payne who have shown promise from the few training sessions we’ve had.”