Pacific Youth Rugby Festival 2023 live stream: Barbarians out to make waves, girls to watch

Some travel up to 12 hours to train, one even flies from Mackay to Brisbane to be part of sessions. If dedication measured success then the Queensland Barbarians girls will be awfully hard to beat.

There’s something about Barbarians teams that always - or should - put their rivals on high alert.

Traditionally unpredictable, often unknown and in many cases boasting players not normally offered the same opportunities as others, makes these young guns more determined than ever to step up and be a force whenever an opportunity presents.

“They are fighters, for sure,” said Barbarians women’s rugby director Matthew Monahan of his teams heading to the Pacific Youth Rugby Festival in Brisbane.

The annual tournament will be exclusively live streamed on KommunityTV, with four fields in action from October 27-29.

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The well travelled Cierra Lewer.

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“Barbarians teams always have grit. Often their teams are in regions where they don’t normally win, so they know how to fight,” Monahan said.

They also know how to recognise an opportunity when one arises.

Monahan said a number of his players and their families have driven up to 12 hours just to get to training sessions ahead of the tournament.

“We have a girl from Mackay, Cierra Lewer. She flies down for training sessions as well,” he said.

“She’s really keen because she doesn’t get to play much and is a shadow player for Queensland Country Orchids.

“We have girls from everywhere. Cairns, a couple from the Gold Coast, a big chunk from the NSW far north coast and a couple from Brisbane.

“The big thing for us was to give the NSW girls an opportunity as well because they haven’t had much.’’

Young rugby player Hannah Clifton is with the Barbarians.

At this year’s Pacific Youth Rugby Festival, which throws a spotlight on the rising stars of rugby, the Queensland Barbarians will field two full teams in the U14s and U16s and 20 players in the U18s girls competition, which is being played for the first time.

And they have high hopes of success.

“The aim is to take out the 14s and 16s with our quality players and because we trained this year,’’ Monahan said.

“But we want them to have fun and enjoy the rugby. A team having fun is hard to beat.’’

U14 BARBARIANS PLAYERS TO WATCH

Abby Smith: A youngster from the famous Western Sydney Two Blues rugby club in Sydney now on the Gold Coast. A strong open side flanker with great ball carrying and breakdown skills. Played for Two Blues in XV’s and 7’s NSW state championships, finishing second overall in both forms of the games.

Hannah Clifton: Plays for the Coomera Crushers on the Gold Coast. A fly half with exceptional rugby IQ. Her ability to control the game around her with strong communication skills sets her apart. A breakout year captaining Queensland Country and defeating Brisbane City in September.

Piper Boddie: From Casuarina on the NSW far north coast. A quick-thinking scrumhalf with a high work rate. Won the Queensland and NSW XV’s Country Championships with South Queensland and Central Coast respectively. Also captained the Far North Coast 7s U13s team.

Young rugby player Piper Boddie.

Lara Kamau: From Brothers Rockhampton. A deceptively quick No. 8 with a strong lineout presence. Dominated set piece in the recent Queensland Country v City battle. In the lead-up to the event made multiple 10 hour trips just to get to training.

Sharleen Kawana: From Helensvale Hogs on the Gold Coast. A strong ball carrying prop who can split defensive lines open. Dominated the scrum in the recent Queensland Country v City game.

Lily Tranter: Hails from Surfers Paradise Rugby Club on the Gold Coast and the daughter of former Wallaroo Selena Tranter. This youngster is a prop who can dominate both sides of the scrum. As well as her strong set piece, ball carrying skills and defensive prowess, she can link with the backline to set up wonderful tries.

U16 BARBARIANS PLAYERS TO WATCH

Bethany Jokinen: From the Coffs Harbour Snappers in NSW. A fullback with fantastic finishing ability when given any time or space. Saves as many tries as she scores with strong one-on-one defence.

Tayla Horrobin: From Darling Downs, this teenager is a centre, strong ball carrier and defensive specialist in the midfield. With size and speed on her side, it takes multiple players to bring her down to the ground.

Jordy Wildman: From Palm Beach Currumbin Alleygators on the Gold Coast. Her rugby IQ of the game is second to none. An underrated youngster who has come through as a player that had one of the highest stats for try assists.

Palm Beach Currumbin players Jordy Wildman, left, and Bryony Luppi.

Isla Gillan: From the Lennox Head Trojans on the NSW far north coast. She is a strong ball carrier and turn over specialist. In 2022 she was a NSW Country representative but was injured in 2023. But she is a player who always comes back strongly.

Maddie Porter: From the Coffs Harbour Snappers in NSW. Porter is not your typical prop. Without relying on her, she is able to dominate set piece and is a strong ball carrier. Players that run straight at her without changing direction better watch out.

Kyrah Milner: From the Gold Coast Eagles on the Gold Coast. A hooker who had a breakout year coming back from a serious injury. Won the Queensland Country championships with South Queensland. Her dominant ball carrying and her high work rate in defence sets her apart. A shadow player for Queensland Country U16s as a 15-year-old.

U18 PLAYERS TO WATCH

Cierra Lewer: Hails from the Mackay Rugby Club. A backrower who plays well in all areas. A leader around the park with great communication who sets her forwards up for success. Played for Central Queensland this year at the country championships and selected as a shadow player for the Queensland Country Orchids.

Lotti Coppola: Hails from Lismore in NSW. Recently moving to scrumhalf she has had a breakout year with NSW Country in XV’s and NSW Schools II in 7’s. Moving from the forwards to the backs has seen her excel in all facets of the game and she is quick around the breakdown if given space and also strong in defence in the second line.

Indi Grey: From Casuarina and the far north coast of NSW. A natural fly half who sets her backline up but is able to seize opportunity to run. She was co-captain of her team at Casuarina, commanding a backline older than her. She also led her team to the Far North Coast NSW premiership and ran out in her regions Country Championships.

Young rugby player Indi Grey is with the Barbarians. Picture: Supplied.

Grace Langburne: Another players hailing from Casuarina in NSW. A fantastic hooker who controls both set pieces with her dominant scrummaging and great lineout throws. Had a breakout year, winning the fare north coast premiership at 17 and also making her far north coast debut at the Country Championship.

BARBARIANS SQUADS

BARBARIANS U14S TEAM: Abby Smith – Two Blues, Sydney, Aayliah Bush – Helensvale Hogs, Gold Coast, Aaliyah Bailey – Northern Beaches Mudcrabs, Far North QLD, Ariana Broughton – Rockhampton Brothers, Rockhampton, Charlie Dennis – Bond Pirates, Gold Coast, Georgie Stephens – Surfers Paradise Dolphins, Gold Coast, Hannah Clifton – Coomera Crushers, Gold Coast, Hazel Fernan – Dalby and District, Darling Downs, Hydrus Barlow-Flavell – Nerang, Gold Coast, Ivy Smith – Palm Beach-Currumbin Allegators, Gold Coast, Kenzie Charnock – SCU Marlines, Mid North Coast NSW, Leilani Bailey – Northern Beaches Mudcrabs, Far North QLD, Lily Tranter – Surfers Paradise Dolphins, Gold Coast, Madeline Child – Northern Beaches Mudcrabs, Far North QLD, Mae-Arii Opuariki – Yatala Rams, Gold Coast, Piper Boddie – Casuarina, Far North Coast NSW, Rhylee Olson – Helensvale Hogs, Gold Coast, Sasha Keeble – Bond Pirates, Gold Coast, Sharleen Kawana – Helensvale Hogs, Gold Coast, Sienna Dollard – Central Highlands, Emerald, Summer Doughty – Byron Shire Rebels, Far North Coast NSW, Tyra-Jade Blair – Northern Beaches Mudcrabs, Far North QLD, Lara Kamau – Rockhampton Brothers, Rockhampton.

Head Coach: Joel Tahiwi – Helensvale Hogs, Gold Coast

Manager: Kylie Child - Northern Beaches Mudcrabs, Far North QLD

BARBARIANS U16S TEAM: Ava Lisetto – Lismore City, Far North Coast NSW, Ava Sutcliffe – Gold Coast Eagles, Gold Coast, Bethany Jokinen – Coffs Harbour Snappers, Mid North Coast NSW, Chloe Weston – Lismore City, Far North Coast NSW, Chloe Sivewright – Lismore City, Far North Coast NSW, Claire White – Gold Coast Eagles, Gold Coast, Claire Dorey – Evans Head Killer Whales, Far North Coast NSW, Emi Charnock – Coffs Harbour Snappers, Mid North Coast NSW, Emily Phillips – Bond Pirates, Gold Coast, Georgia Barrow – Gold Coast Eagles, Gold Coast, Heidi Silvester – Central Highlands, Emerald, Ilaria Blenkhorn – Lismore City, Far North Coast NSW, Indigo Simpson – Lennox Head Trojans, Far North Coast NSW, Isla Gillan – Lennox Head Trojans, Far North Coast NSW, Jordy Wildman – Palm Beach-Currumbin Allegators, Gold Coast, Keira Child – Northern Beaches Mudcrabs, Far North QLD, Kyrah Milner – Gold Coast Eagles, Gold Coast, Maddie Porter – Coffs Harbour Snappers, Mid North Coast NSW, Madeline Morrison – Bond Pirates, Gold Coast, Matilda Maher – Lismore City, Far North Coast NSW, Mili Docherty – Lennox Head Trojans, Far North Coast NSW, Olivia Leeson – Lismore City, Far North Coast NSW, Tayla Horrobin – Highfields Redbacks, Darling Downs.

Head Coach: Amy Van Meygaarden – Coomera Crushers, Gold Coast

Assistant: Eru Richards – Coomera Crushers, Gold Coast

Manager: Ceri Phillips – Bond Pirates, Gold Coast

Water Technician: Tahlia McKenzie – Bond Pirates, Gold Coast

BARBARIANS U18S TEAM: Amber Ivers – Lennox Head Trojans, Far North Coast NSW

Cierra Lewer – Mackay, Central QLD, Ellie Stewert – Lismore City, Far North Coast NSW, Emily Gaydon – Casino Bulls, Far North Coast NSW, Gabi Williams – Central Highlands, Emerald, Grace Langburne – Casuarina, Far North Coast NSW, Hayley Marshall – Lismore City, Far North Coast NSW, Heidi Hulls – West Bulldogs, Brisbane, Imogen Smith – Bond Pirates, Gold Coast, Indi Grey – Casuarina, Far North Coast NSW, Isabelle Johnston – Northern Beaches Mudcrabs, Far North QLD, Laura Parsons – Lismore City, Far North Coast NSW, Lotti Coppola – Lismore City, Far North Coast NSW, Mikayla Harris – Sunnybank Dragons, Brisbane, Shontali Williams – Lismore City, Far North Coast NSW, Tabitha Hulls – West Bulldogs, Brisbane, Samara Leven – Lismore City, Far North Coast NSW.

Head Coach: Brett McLaren, Lennox Head Trojans, Far North Coast NSW

Assistant Coach: Bass Hopkins, Nerang Bulls, Gold Coast

Trainer: Arelene Van Rooyen – Palm Beach Currumbin Alleygators, Gold Coast

Water Technician: Clare Hogan – West Bulldogs, Brisbane

Originally published as Pacific Youth Rugby Festival 2023 live stream: Barbarians out to make waves, girls to watch