Revealed: 10+ Pacific Youth Rugby Festival stars as future of competition unveiled
The euphoria has barely faded from the success of the Pacific Youth Rugby Festival, and yet plans are already in the works to take the concept even further. MEET THE QUEENSLAND STARS OF THE WEEKEND HERE >>
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Gold Coast women’s rugby union pioneer Kristin Dunn has declared it was time for the region to “move with the times” in a bid to take the code to a new level.
The euphoria has barely faded from the success of the Pacific Youth Rugby Festival, and yet plans are already in the works to take the concept across the nation.
And from there Dunn, the festival’s founder and organiser, believes a new era for women’s rugby union could be born.
In the space of 12 months the blossoming competition more than doubled to 950 participants, with sides representing Samoan, Fijian, New Zealand and United Kingdom heritages in additions to the Australian outfits.
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Among such growth was the evolution of the girls 15-a-side game, with last year’s three team outlet growing to seven across two age divisions.
Dunn, who is involved with the Gold Coast District Rugby Union and Nerang Bulls women’s committees, said that was the space which had the largest growth potential and needed to be capitalised on moving forward.
The GCDRU clubs have begun to put in the ground work to at last create a 15-a-side season on the Glitter Strip — with Helensvale, Eagles and Griffith declaring their intentions to join the Coomera Crushers in the format — and Dunn said the Festival in turn could serve as a representative pathway for these hopeful prospects to reach the elite levels.
“They’re two separate avenues, I believe the Festival is an opportunity for scouts to see the players, and it’s an opportunity for more female and male players to be seen,” she said.
“I’m already in discussions with Central Queensland to bring three girls team for under 14, U16s and U18s in 2023 so that ball is rolling.
“From a district level there’s a lot of things that are in the pipeline and I hope we can work with QRU (Queensland Rugby Union) to make these opportunities available and cement them.
“My passion and my goal there is to get us from a 7-a-side comp to a 15-a-side just like we need to be.
“Not every player is cut out to play (Rugby) 7s, it’s a completely different game to 15-a-side rugby, and I think we as a district need to move with the times and provide the opportunities for our girls.”
While the success of the weekend’s Festival on the Sunshine Coast emphasised a need to facilitate more regular opportunities for women, Dunn has sought to grow the competition beyond that.
Initial feedback from the showcase has cried for an opens division, according to Dunn, while she is also hopeful of ensuring Indigenous outfits are brought into the fold.
Given sides from Victoria, New Zealand and New South Wales attended the spectacle, she said the long term goal would be to ensure teams across the nation were involved in the celebration of rugby and culture.
“What started as just a Pasifika festival has grown substantially … discussions are in place to bring in First Nations (teams) for our Indigenous Australians so they get the opportunity to be seen and represented,” Dunn said.
“This needs to be all cultures, it can’t just be designed purely for Pasifika, we need to give these children the opportunity to represent their heritage, culture and background.
“Victoria want to know how to bring more team. The growth is there, not only for us as Southeast Queensland but the growth is there for Victoria and other states to be involved. “We’re reaching out to New South Wales to see how many age divisions they can fill for 2023; they only had one team represented this year so the goal is to have them in all age divisions for 2023.”
STAR PLAYERS FROM THE FESTIVAL
Queensland Fiji Under 18s Boys: Vaimoe Koroi
Hailing from the University of Queensland, bulldozing hooker Vaimoe Koroi set about dominating the middle of the field for the Fiji boys.
Standing at just 158cm but 110kg, the St Peters Lutheran College product shone throughout the competition.
A representative of the Queensland Schoolboys under-18s side, the skipper proved instrumental in securing a grand final victory on Sunday.
Queensland Fiji Under 16s Boys: Iowani Cavuilati
A young man adept across both rugby codes.
Iowani Cavuilati was a sensation on the wing for the Fijian side, however where his future lies may still be a mystery.
Despite the North Queensland product from Ignatius Park College thriving in the 15-man code, he is a member of the North Queensland Cowboys Academy for the under-16s in rugby league.
A bright future awaits this young flyer.
Queensland Kiwis Under 16s Boys: Tainyn Clarken
A strike player for the Kiwi throughout the Festival, Tainyn Clarken showcased an ability to break a game open off his own back.
At any point when his rivals struggled to get an efficient clearance kick away, Clarken made them pay.
Whether it was a chip and chase or a deft grubber kick to himself, the teenager made his chances count in scoring seven tries from seven games.
He has since been invited into the Queensland under-17s rugby 7s camp at the end of the month.
Queensland Kiwis Under 16s Boys: Kobe Johnson
The co-captain of the Kiwi outfit struggled to even make the first whistle, and yet he showcased all of his potential in an instant.
Open side flanker Kobe Johnson underwent tendon surgery on his finger and was only just cleared to play in time for the Festival to begin.
His coach Glenn Williams praised his efforts given the way in which he “led from the front in every game”, while putting his body on the line and proving that size is not the prevailing factor “when you have courage and heart”.
Johnson and his identical twin Jack — who was fly-half for the Kiwis — have been invited to trial for the national Indigenous 7s team in Sydney later in November.
Queensland Samoa Under 12s Mixed: Tyson Tai
Another young player who excels with both the Gilbert and Steeden in hand, Tyson Tai proved a constant threat at inside centre.
The Queensland Samoa gun shone in a side who charged to the title, claiming a 7-0 triumph over the Queensland Kiwis.
Tai, a representative for the Queensland Under-12s rugby league outfit and product of Brisbane State High School, showcased his ability with each touch of the ball.
Queensland Barbarians Under 16s Boys: Ryan Wildman
The skipper stood tall for his side in a championship winning cause.
Ryan Wildman has endured a long but fruitful rugby season, winning competitions with Palm Beach Currumbin Alleygators and the Gold Coast Cyclones in addition to his Festival exploits.
The Queensland Country under-16s representative also helped himself to a title with the Tugun Seahawks in the Rugby League Gold Coast, but the halfback saved his best for last.
“To finish the season off by representing the QLD Barbarians at the Pacific Youth Rugby Festival was definitely one of the highlights,” Wildman said.
“To experience playing against other teams representing their culture was an amazing feeling to see what it meant to them was very inspiring.
“The NZ Haka and the Fijians singing will forever be etched in my memory as great rugby moments.
“I was fortunate enough to be part of a great side who were great mates on and off the field and to win it with them was a very rewarding way to end the season.”
Queensland Samoa Under 14s Boys: Agapetos Lote-Felo
Agapetos Lote-Felo is a teenager who could well feature on many a highlights reel to come.
The Gold Coast Eagles gun has featured for Queensland Samoa since the first under-10s team took to the Festival, and justified his Queensland Emerging Reds selection frequently.
A damaging carrier of the football who often takes several defenders to stop, the young forward has been lauded as a star of the future.
Queensland Samoa Under 16s Girls: Sky Yvette-Faimalie
In a championship-winning side, Sky Yvette-Faimalie demonstrated she was a future star in the making.
Despite being just 15 years old, her team has described her as a young woman “paving the way for girls rugby”.
Hard working and determined, her efforts were pivotal as she and her teammates lifted the silverware on Sunday.
Queensland Samoa Under 16s Boys: Dylan Palupe-Taufua
He may be extremely raw in rugby union, but Dylan Palupe-Taufua played like a youngster who has been finetuning his game for some time.
Making his debut appearance in the 15-man code at last year’s Pacific Youth Rugby Festival, Palupe-Taufua was praised as a “talent to watch” by Queensland Samoa’s coaching staff for the aggressive manner in which he carried the football and thrived in contact.
Queensland Barbarians Under 18s Boys: Tyler Stevens
It took until his move to Keebra Park this year for Queensland Barbarians halfback Tyler Stevens to attempt contact sports.
Given how he performed in the weekend’s Festival, perhaps he is wishing he laced on the boots sooner.
The crafty number nine was lauded by his coach as a player to watch moving forward after he helped his side overcome two opening round losses to reach the semi-finals.
“I have loved rugby all my life but I never played any contact sports until the start of 2022 when I moved to Keebra Park State High School,” Stevens said.
“I played touch and oztag since a young age but never joined rugby until I decided to join the Nerang Bulls, since then my knowledge for the game grew thanks to the coaching staff there.
“This is the most exposure I’ve ever had to the game by far. I’ve loved the game since a young age because of my dad and to finally get a chance to play is awesome to me.
“I’d love to take it to the next level but in the mean time there is many things I can improve on in my game.”
Queensland Barbarians Under 12s Mixed: Saaphyri Bradshaw
Just 12 years old but already proving herself to be a player who could truly help take women’s rugby into the future.
Saaphyri Bradshaw dominated at outside centre, praised by her coach Dwayne Pakinga as an honour to coach and the strongest asset the side had on the field.
Already a representative player in both rugby league and rugby union, Bradshaw carried over her strong form for Logan Saints to highlight whether her opposite number was male or female she had the skill and rugby IQ to beat them one-on-one.
“She has been a breath of fresh air in the team,” Pakinga said, “and I hope she persists with the sport of rugby.”
Australian Superstars Under 16s Boys: Undecided
Coach Ian Persini and manager Jo Booth simply could not narrow down one star to name in a side who went within a whisker of taking the title.
The Australian Superstars under-16s boys went down in the grand final to a rampant Queensland Barbarians outfit 24-19 in one of the most enthralling contests of the Festival.
With just four training sessions under their belt, given the make up of the outfit consisted of players from the Gold Coast up to Noosa, the team’s staff had nothing but praise for the way in which they came together as a collective in quick time.
“As a team the boys quickly developed combinations with the team having win, a draw and a loss on the first day. They continued to develop on the second day with a draw and 2 wins,” a statement from the side read.
“The teams success was built on their defence and ability to work together no matter who was on the field. This was no more evident than on the last day when they played in the semi final and grand final.
“All of the squad members grew as players over the tournament and developed friendships out of mutual respect that will continue to grow.
“Many had experiences that they will hold for years to come. It was an honour to work with such a respectful and enthusiastic group of young men.”
Queensland Barbarians Under 14s Boys: Undefeated, undecided
Similarly to the Australian under-16s side, Queensland Barbarians under-14s coach Jason Croll was unable to separate his players in a triumphant campaign.
Having swept through last year’s competition to claim the title, Croll stressed upon his team just how challenging defending their crown would be now that they were the hunted.
However the 30-man squad — made up predominantly of Gold Coast talents — were able to take their game to a new level, going through the tournament undefeated to lift the trophy once again.
“The 2022 QLD Junior Barbarians under 14s boys team set high expectations from the outset for the campaign, it was known and discussed as a squad just how difficult it would be going back to back as champions,” Croll said.
“During the tournament we found ourselves going up against everyone in our age group through the pool games, semi-final and ultimately the grand final against a determined Queensland Samoa who pushed us all the way in a hard fought, back and forth game.
“With our win over Samoa in the grand final we completed a wonderful six wins from six games to remain undefeated for the tournament to retain the coveted Pacific Youth Rugby Festival U14 Boys trophy for another year.”
Australian Superstars Under 14s Girls: Undecided
Head coach Sean Beardmore was also unable to split up his team, particularly given how new to the code the majority of his squad was.
With his son Tyler as assistant coach and daughter Shelbie supporting them — felled by a shoulder injury and unable to play — the group galvanised to reach the semi-finals.
While they ultimately went down to Victoria Samoa 27-7, the Australian Superstars side was the only outfit to inflict scoreboard damage on the eventually champions.
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