Australia’s women's rugby sevens bring home gold, but will it change the stigma around the sport?

RIGHT NOW, the Australian women’s Rugby Sevens team is on top of the world. But will a gold medal change the stigma around the sport?

Gold medallists Australia celebrate after the women’s rugby sevens medal ceremony during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Picture: Philippe Lopez/AFP

RIGHT NOW, the Australian women’s Rugby Sevens team is on top of the world.

Having beaten New Zealand in a stunning 24-17 victory in Rio and snatching the Olympic gold, its win was something our men’s 15-a-side team has barely been able to do in the past 15 years.

Ellia Green of Australia tackles Kayla Mcalister of New Zealand during the Women's Gold Medal Rugby Sevens match. Picture: Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images

But as a sport that’s been dominated by men both on and off the field for decades, ‘Rugby War Goddess’ Georgia Page says it’s time people realised that the women’s game is “just as tough as the men’s”.

“Watching the girls get the gold this morning, they just make you want to try harder to get to that level,” the young Sevens prop, who plays for the Queensland Reds, told news.com.au.

“Their win has done so much for the publicity of the sport in Australia.”

Georgia Page hopes the women’s stunning Rugby Sevens win will give the sport more attention.

Last year, Page’s blood-­splattered face made her a global sensation, and brought the brutality of women’s rugby into the spotlight.

The then 20-year-old went viral after she smashed a rival player in the first tackle of a televised US college Sevens game, and broke her nose.

More than 1.2 million people watched the Youtube video of the young footy star spitting a mouthful of her blood on the ground, but continuing to play through blood and tears to make another bone-rattling tackle seconds later.

Georgia Page has broken several bones while playing rugby, but says she has an ‘unexplainable’ love for the sport.

Her bloodied face paved a path for the sport in Australia, with social media taking note of just how tough the women’s game can be.

“The sevens is just as tough as the mens,” she said.

“You’re tackling pound for pound. I’m 66kg, and will have someone that’s 90kg or more running at me. That’s 30kg difference, and they hit really hard, and it’s how I broke my nose and leg.

“But we all love it. Every woman who plays is so passionate, and it really consumes your life.”

After a quick clean up and a broken nose, Georgia hit the field minutes later and performed another tackle.

In just three years since training for the sport, Page, who has played alongside forward Chloe Dalton in the past, has broken her nose and leg, separated the AC joint in both her shoulders, and tomorrow will have surgery for a meniscus tear to the knee — which will have her out of action for six weeks.

While the game isn’t for everyone, it’s becoming more and more popular for young women — especially in Australia.

“Since I started when I was 19 to now, it’s crazy how many people are interested in women’s rugby,” she said.

“Just a few years ago there were hardly any women interested in it. But now, it’s a lot more competitive with more younger girls getting involved which is great.

“I wish I had mentors like the women in the Olympic team when I was younger.”
The now 21-year-old, who didn’t compete in Rio but has her eye on the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, admitted that despite the tackles, training and bloodshed — people still do not realise that women’s rugby is just as tough as the mens.

From hockey, touch football and even basketball, many of the star performers from the women’s sevens team were not traditionally trained in rugby before being scouted for the Olympic squad.

“You have to be so fit to play sevens, so the selectors are picking women who may have been 100m sprinters and training them for sevens instead,” she said.

“When you’re playing sevens, it’s not about how much you weigh, it’s about speed and you can’t really train speed.”

Australia's Alicia Quirk tackles New Zealand's Gayle Broughton in the women’s rugby sevens gold medal match. Picture: John MacDougall

Page, who has congratulated her idol Sharni Williams on the gold medal, said as a young player who hopes to make the Olympic team in four years time, this gold means everything to women’s rugby in Australia.

“Their win has only fuelled my fire and motivation for Tokyo,” Page said.

“This has done so much for the publicity of the sevens. Some people are seeing rugby for the first time, so watching the women play is a big shock.

“I hope the national team will get a pay rise out of this, because it’s their full time job. “Hopefully more funding will go to women's rugby, and even provide more resources on a state level.”

Georgia Page currently plays for the Queensland Reds, and is also signed to sports management group Wink.