Sydney v County rugby: Waratahs selectors on lookout for standouts, bolters in girls games in Maitland

Last year two young guns emerged from the wings at Sydney v Country to make his squad. Now Waratahs coach Campbell Aitken is looking for more new blood at Maitland on Sunday.

The City v Country battle in the girls U18s last year was a close and fierce contest. Junior Rugby Union in Bathurst. Picture: Jeremy Piper

It was one of the games of the Sydney v Country rugby tournament a year ago.

A fierce - and a times heated battle - between the best under 18s talent in the state with Country just edging out their City foes by a point.

It was also the game Brooke McKinnon, the teenager who grew up on a cattle farm in rural NSW at Bingara caught the eye of NSW Waratahs coach Campbell Aitken

“She was the catalyst for that win in Bathurst,” he said.

“That performance got her in the squad.”

It also eventually lead to a Super W debut for McKinnon with the NSW Waratahs.

SPOTS OPEN FOR TAHS BOYS

Action in the Sydney Country carnival last year.

Aitken said the annual matches between Sydney and Country is a golden opportunity for him to scout new talent for an extended squad of 60 women being formed ahead of the next Super W season.

“We are looking to take between 15-20 under 16 and under 18 girls,” Aitken said.

“This is a great opportunity for them to show themselves. We’d love to see a few bolts from the blue.

“Last year we also saw Brook Wilson from Illawarra here and she ended up making it into the Waratahs Super W squad as well.

The U18s match was one of the best of the day in 2022.

RUGBY’S LITTLE PIONEERS

“We are pretty open about what we want. We just want girls with talent.”

Aitken said with pathways now in place for girls all the way through their teenage years, he is also seeing a lift in the standard of players.

“What I’ve been seeing in the under 16 and under 18s, I am super impressed,” he said.

“These girls are playing are rugby, not making up numbers.

“The decision making is more natural, they are better coached and have good communication.’’

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