Rugby: Dad and daughter’s 100-game milestone

OF all the footy dads standing on the sidelines across Australia on Saturday, the proudest of all will be Rex Gibson.

Proud dad Rex Gibson with his daughter Amanda who will play her 100th game with the Warringah Ratettes on Saturday. Picture: Adam Yip.

• Manly Marlins recruit Gunzz ‘N Roses
• Sea Eagles pack gains respect

OF all the footy dads standing on the sidelines across Australia tomorrow, the proudest of all will be Rex Gibson.

His daughter Amanda Gibson will play her 100th game for the Warringah Ratettes, a milestone that he also achieved with Warringah in the late 1970s.

“I’ve never won a premiership, but Amanda reaching 100 is like a premiership,” he said.

“I am very proud, she couldn’t do anything better.”

While plenty of fathers and sons have both cracked the tonne at the same rugby club over the years, for a father and daughter to do is indeed a rarity anywhere in the world.

Amanda will reach her milestone packing down at hooker for the Ratettes against Blacktown at Blacktown tomorrow afternoon in the first round of the Sydney women’s competition.

22/3/17 Amanda Gibson with her dad Rex Gibson and her children Hayden, Brad and Annika. Picture: Adam Yip.

The mother of three started playing with the Ratettes in 2007 after previously being a soccer player with the Collaroy Cromer Strikers.

“Because dad played for them I thought I would come down to the Ratettes,” she said.

She has had three “pregnant pauses” along the way in 2012, 2014 and 2016 off when she had her children Hayden, 4, Brad, 2, and Annika, seven months.

“l’ve been hanging out for it for a while, I’m very happy to finally do it,” she said.

She admitted what makes tomorrow’s game even more special is the fact that her dad also played 100 games and that he will be there to watch it.

Rex is a proud old Rat who played for Warringah between 1969 and 1980 as a fullback five-eighth and halfback.

While he is listed as officially playing 138 games, Rex reckons the tally is actually closer to 250.

“I played third and fourth grade every weekend,” he said.

Rex’s 31-year-old daughter has inherited his passion for rugby and plans to keep lacing up the boots “as long as my body will last.”

Mum Rosemary said she was thrilled, but it will also be an emotional occasion.

“When I look back to what she was like as a little one to how she is now, it’s just wonderful to see she has followed in her father’s footsteps,” Rosemary said.