Burraneer Rugby Club launches for women only

A new women’s only rugby club has declared its not “anti-male” but simply wants to provide an environment where women can feel supported.

A women’s only rugby club that has launched in the Sutherland Shire has declared it’s not “anti-male” but simply wants an environment where women can feel supported.

Burraneer Rugby Club president Maddi Anderson said she’s been overwhelmed with positive feedback from the local community after the club won its first tournament at the Kiama Sevens on Saturday.

“It was never started with the idea that it would exclude boys or anything, it was just more that we saw an opening where we really wanted to make something that was doing the girls justice,” she said.

Burraneer Womens Rugby Club players Olivia Brooks, Paige McKeown and Tiarne Cavanagh. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Ariana Harden, Paige McKeown, Tiarne Cavanagh, Maddi Anderson and Olivia Brooks at John Dwyer Oval in Caringbah. Picture: Jonathan Ng

“It’s not necessarily that we would never consider including males and our male staffing is well-represented. Majority of the coaches are males so it’s not anti-men, it’s more that we wanted a supportive environment for women and to give them the opportunity to be included.

“I’ve been playing rugby for 10 years and it was a typically male-dominated sport initially when we were just coming onto the scene. I think we need a tailored program that really suits us and our group of girls to bring out the best in everyone.”

Anderson — whose club already has more than 50 members — said there’s been growing interest in Rugby Sevens in the area since Australia won the women’s rugby final at the Rio Olympics in 2016.

The Burraneer Womens Rugby Club after their win at the Kiama 7s.

“With the Rugby Sevens becoming a sport in the Olympics in 2016, there’s been a massive drive where girls are looking up to the Gold medallists from Rio and wanting to be involved in rugby so we really wanted to have that opportunity around the Shire for them to develop their game and be included,” she said.

Burraneer Rugby Club member Olivia Brooks, 26, said small changes have been significant.

“I think it’s a great idea because there isn’t one anywhere else,” she said of the club.

“With the women’s-only club, we’re going to have our own facilities that we can use and we don’t have to share with the boys.

“It’s a good step forward to get all of our own gear and no hand-me downs for all of the teams.”