World School Sevens Rugby for NSW country quartet in Australian Barbarians

You need speed, skills and stamina to impress in sevens. This young gun has found having a rugby fan in the family also works wonders.

Amelie Cobb-Johnson and Annie Craig are schoolmates.

When you are a country player in any sport you have to like spending hour upon hour in a car or bus.

Young Rugby Sevens talent Annie Craig has found having a fan in the family is also a big help.

The 17-year-old schoolgirl from Bathurst is one of four country players in the Australian Barbarian side heading to New Zealand for the world schools sevens rugby championships in Auckland on December 17-18.

But the flight to Auckland will be a shorter trip than it generally takes for these youngsters just to get to rugby training.

“For 15s training I used to come down on Tuesday and Thursdays and to Sydney University and I have the shortest trips of all the girls,” said Craig, whose round trip to training could take up to six hours.

Young rugby player Annie Craig in action.

“I’m on my P’s so my family don’t really like me driving so dad usually drives me.

“He’s a rugby fan and likes to watch my training which is great.”

Young country rugby player Annie Craig.

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Craig, who played for City in the City v Country rugby championships at Bathurst earlier this year, has also played Sevens for the Manly Marlins and been involved with the Sydney University club.

In New Zealand she will represent a Barbarian side at the December 17 and 18 tournament.

Prior to this the Barbarians will play a series of international matches in the lead-up to the two-day event.

Fellow country players in the side are Amelie Cobb-Johnson from Edgeroi, Tomi Gavin from Tamworth and Amalie Gosper from Narrabri.

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Originally published as World School Sevens Rugby for NSW country quartet in Australian Barbarians