North Sydney District Rugby League recruits women players
THE North Sydney Bears aim to field a debut team in the NSW Rugby League Women’s Premiership in a historic move to support women in sport.
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THE North Sydney Bears aim to be a triple threat in NSW Rugby League by fielding a historic first women’s team and a new under-20s, state-based team this season.
The Bears already play in the NSWRL ISP Cup, where they made it into the first week of finals last season.
An information night for the women’s team attracted about 20 potential players last week in Norths, where coach Ben Gardiner was introduced to the group and the club outlined its plans for the season.
Bears general manager Greg Florimo said game day at North Sydney Oval would be “massive”, with the hope that all three teams would line up for home crowd support.
“It’s a very historic moment for the club, to have an open women’s team play in the NSWRL premiership competition,” he said.
“That will be the starting point for what we hope will grow into a strong women’s league in the district.”
Florimo said women in sport were gaining momentum and so were women in rugby league.
“NSWRL has decided to raise the standard in terms of women’s rugby league and we thought that this was the right entry level for us to get into the game,” he said.
“So, as a board, we decided it was a good direction for the club and certainly it’s going to make game day a great experience at North Sydney Oval.”
Florimo said the Bears aimed to field two women’s teams to ensure there were enough players every weekend.
“We have formed a partnership with the Forestville Ferrets; they have had a women’s team for the past six years,” he said.
“That will give us a backstop of players who will be playing in that second division competition so, if they are good enough, they will be stepping up and playing for the Bears in the NSWRL Women’s Premiership.”
Florimo said the Bears needed to recruit more elite women players.
“We are going over that process in the next six weeks before the competition starts to make the very best team we can,” he said.
“The information night was very well received. The idea is to have the women’s games before the men’s matches.”
Florimo said any women keen to play for the Bears were welcome to the first training session at Bicentennial Reserve, Willoughby, on Tuesday, February 13 at 5.45pm.
For more details about the women’s team, email greg@northsydneybears.com.au or visit northsydneybears.com.au