Australian schools rugby 2023: Players new schoolgirls coach looking for, Global Youth Sevens

The new schoolgirls sevens coach wants to see speed and power at the Australian schools rugby championship. But there are other special things she’s also looking for. Tournament preview

Australian Schools Rugby Championship battled between NSWS A and Queensland last year. Pic: Jeremy Piper

The new Aussie schoolgirls Rugby Sevens coach wants to see plenty of speed and power at the upcoming Australian schools championship. But there are other special things she’s also looking for.

Spots in the first touring Australian school girls Rugby Sevens team are up for grabs at the 49th Australian schools rugby championship at Erik Tweedale Stadium which starts on Monday.

And recently appointed coach Ash Mewburn knows exactly what she wants to see from teenagers playing at the event and vying for team spots in the team to compete at the Global Youth Sevens tournament at the end of the year.

“I’m looking for power and speed,” Mewburn said. “But I also need girls who are going to be resilient.

“I want them to be able to problem solve and I also want to create a positive culture.

“This is the first year. We want to create a positive culture and atmosphere to bring the girls together.”

TAHS READY FOR REDS U18S

LEAGUE GUN AT SCHOOLBOYS RUGBY

Young guns competing in the under 16s comp last year. Pic: Jeremy Piper

Mewburn said skills including the ability to think ahead, a good kicking game and being powerful are also ones she prizes and wants team players and “players who can be part of a puzzle’’.

Mewburn was last week unveiled as the Australian schools rugby union schoolgirls coach and will also lead the NSW I team at the event where the girls will play Sevens and the schoolboys 15-a-side rugby.

The sport and maths teacher at Goulburn High School is also a former NSW CHS, Waratahs and Brumbies player.

“This is very exciting for schoolgirl Rugby Sevens. It shows there is a legitimate pathway to be successful, going from school events to regionals, states and All Schools and then an Australian schools tournament where you can be considered for a national team,’’ she said.

Sevens rugby is growing in schoolgirl circles.

“This is potentially, in the future, the pathway for girls to the Brisbane Olympics (in 2032). It is incredible.’’

The girls tournament is being played alongside the schoolboys event from July 3-6.

The girls sevens matches will be played on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday.

All semi and finals matches in the school boys and school girls competitions will be played on Thursday, July 6.

The schoolgirls played at the Australian Schools Rugby Championships in 2022 for the first time.

At the end of the event 12 girls from the 18s competition and the top seven in the 16s will go into a camp in September to train with the Youth Commonwealth Games team.

The best 12 of these 19 will then be selected for the Australian schoolgirls team to play at the Global Youth Sevens in December in Queensland.

TEAMS – GIRLS OPEN SEVENS

Australian Capital Territory (ACT)

Lloyd McDermott Rugby Development Team Inc (LMRDT)

NSW Schools Rugby Union 1 (NSW 1)

NSW Schools Rugby Union 2 (NSW 2)

Queensland (QLD)

TEAMS – GIRLS U16 SEVENS

Lloyd McDermott Rugby Development Team Inc (LMRDT)

NSW Rugby Union (NSW)

NSW Rugby Union (NSW Invitational)

Queensland Schools Rugby Union (QLD

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