Central Australian Rugby Union to go ahead with Women’s Sevens competition

Women in Alice Springs will have a new avenue to play rugby union this year with the Central Australian Rugby Union developing a women’s seven’s competition.

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - AUGUST 08: Evania Pelite of Australia scores a try against Kelly Brazier of New Zealand during the Women's Gold Medal Rugby Sevens match between Australia and New Zealand on Day 3 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Deodoro Stadium on August 8, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)

Women in Alice Springs will have a new avenue to play rugby union this year with the Central Australian Rugby Union developing a women’s seven’s competition.

Two women’s teams will compete against each other each week on Saturday evenings between the men’s CARU matches, giving women the opportunity to take to the field.

New CARU president Sarah France, who returns to the role after being vice president last season, said growing the women’s game was a major focus of a new and excited committee. “For the first time in a long time we have a really strong and committed committee and we really want to push the sport forward,” she said. “This year we are building quite a strong presence in our women’s game. The idea is that every week between the two men’s games we’ll have a women’s game.

“It will be seven-a-side and seven minute halves, we just want everyone to come down and have a crack.

“The sport is no doubt growing, Australia are gold medallists at the Olympics in the women.

“It’s not a widely publicised sport women’s sevens but we think there’s a lot of potential here in town for it.”

New CARU president Sarah France. Picture: Anthony Geppa

Along with the growth of the women’s game, France said the CARU committee is determined to help grow the junior game here in Alice Springs.

France said she hopes to give kids something to do during their summer in Alice Springs, saying rugby is the perfect outlet.

“Juniors is also a big focus for us,” France said.

“There aren’t a lot of sports through summer for our kids so we’d really like to offer something. We’re going to start up a 17’s competition and while that’s for 17’s at the moment, on November 3 we’ve got our Todd River Sevens and right through the day there will be come and try activities for kids.

“Our teams are committed and they’ll help run those activities so it’ll be a great opportunity for kids to come down and try.”

For more information about the women’s competition or the juniors competition, visit CARU’s Facebook page.