Sydney women’s rugby scene bursting with new talent as Jack Scott Cup squads named
Stepping into coaching for the first time, Wallaroos legend Iliseva Batibasaga has noticed a huge difference between club rugby and Super W. Find out more inside.
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Sydney’s premier women’s rugby competition kicks off on April 13, and this year there are new players, new coaches, and even new teams.
Here are all the key movements and news updates from each club.
Click here for the big market moves in the Shute Shield.
WEST HARBOUR
When Iliseva Batibasaga made the bold decision to switch from Sydney University to coach West Harbour, one person who had no qualms with the move was her cousin – Lote Tuqiri.
“Lote played for West Harbour, so for him it was very much ‘Up the Pirates’,” Batibasaga said.
The former Wallaroo and NSW Waratahs halfback enters the coaching fray following her retirement from playing last year.
But while she spent her entire club career playing for Uni’s Lionesses, including last year’s loss to Easts in the Jack Scott Cup grand final, it is at Concord where she’ll begin the next phase of her rugby journey.
“I just felt Uni were over-resourced, I was looking that has a history of supporting women’s rugby and I found that here at West Harbour,” Batibasaga said.
“We have Charmain Steventon, a former Wallaroo, on the board. We’ve got Louise Ferris, another former Wallaroo, as our coaching consultant. There are noticeable pathways in the club.”
Batibasaga, also related to former Fijian winger Nemani Nadolo, is quickly learning the challenges of club coaching.
“I’m also doing coaching development with NSW Waratahs women, on a Tuesday night, I’m calling players asking them if they can play, whereas at the Tahs, Ruthvo [head coach Mike Ruthven] is calling players to say they can’t play,” Batibasaga said.
“It has been a steep learning curve, it’s very different on the other side of the pen.
“Being a club coach, you have to cater to the varying abilities of your players. Some have never played rugby before, others have plans to play for the Wallaroos, so it’s about developing training sessions that engage them all and make it enjoyable enough so they want to come back.”
This is West Harbour’s second season after re-entering Sydney’s premier women’s club rugby tournament.
They’ve signed newly appointed captain Maddison Brooke from New Zealand.
Fijiana Drua prop Joma Rabuti, who helped that team win Super W two years ago, has also signed with the Pirates.
Rabuti is one of several mothers in the team. Others juggling children, work and rugby are Cleo Carreno, Susana Daukuro, Lovely Cocker and Kowhai Ruawhare – who gave birth in January and is now on the club’s post-partum return to play program.
The squad has 16 new players, alongside 12 players from 2023.
Batibasaga has relied on her background in early childhood development learning to shape her training sessions.
“Adults are like kids; some players are visual, some need demonstrations, we all take in information in different ways,” Batibasaga said.
“I’m pleased with what I’ve seen in our first two trials, we’ve managed to score some points. We have two more trial matches to go, last year they didn’t even play one trial.
“When I was at Uni playing against the Pirates, we always knew they were really powerful in the 22.
“My ultimate goal is to stretch that power to our 40, 50, so teams won’t be able to withstand that power in their own half.
“I want to be able to get a couple of wins this year, and then aim for top four next season.”
Batibasaga is being assisted in the coaching team by Cas Van Rythoven, while Dimi Poulos is their strength and conditioning coach.
EASTERN SUBURBS
The defending champions will again be guided by head coach Paul Toia and assistant Gill Bourke, and have put in strong work during the pre-season in their efforts to go back-to-back.
Easts have 10 players in the Waratahs Super W squad, including the club’s 2023 defensive player of the year, Skye Churchill.
Easts will also rely on Wallaroo stars Arabella McKenzie, Desi Miller, Georgie Friedrichs, Maya Stewart and Kaitlin Leaney to help their title defence.
Friedrichs, a world-class centre, is the current vice-captain of the Wallaroos and dominates every time she takes the field, this month in the Super W, later in the year with the Beasties, and then for Country in the WXV 1 competition.
Maya Stewart is another who is held in high regard in the rugby world. She is a try scoring machine, bagged two in the 22-17 grand final win over Uni last year and has 19 in 12 games in Super W with the Waratahs. Her step, acceleration and straight-arm fend make her a constant attacking threat.
Churchill has forced her way into the Super W Waratahs squad, and shows fierce determination to tackle everything in her path.
Erin Coll has impressed the coaching staff during pre-season and they’re predicting a big season from her.
Aroha Spillane grew into the backs leadership role last season, and Easts predict she will take another big step in her rugby journey. Spillane, a five-eighth, is lightning fast and difficult to defend.
Easts have a number of players in the Super W Waratahs squad this season; McKenzie, Miller, Friedrichs, Stewart, Leaney, Churchill, Caitlan Halse, Jacinta Windsor, and Martha Stewart.
MANLY MERMAIDS
After years of performing well on the Sevens circuit, the Mermaids will finally join the XVs realm in the Jack Scott Cup for the first time.
Through their Sevens program they’ve produced current Australian stars Maddi Ashby, Sariah Paki, Faith Nathan and Alyssa Fakaosilea.
Manly has two current Super W players; Jamie Studdy at the Brumbies, and Seneti Kilisimasi at Western Force.
They’ve appointed ex Super W player Georgina Tuipulotu - who is only 20 years old - as captain for the 2024 season, and she’ll play alongside her three sisters Angel, Sarah and Esther.
Players to watch will be 16-year-old gun Lilieta Pouli, Leonia Vei, Australian Sevens Schools All Stars player Chaela-lee Falls, Brooke Bosland, and local sisters Pia and Casey Jackson.
Tongan international Serenity Mahoni, Kilisimasi, Pani Hopoate and Sheridan Gallagher will make appearances throughout the season.
Manly’s new-look coaching staff is head coach Ben Tuipulotu, assisted by former Fijian international Meli Nakuta, and former Super W Waratahs player Faliki Pohiva - who will also strap up the boots as a player/assistant coach.
Aliya Helu is the strength and conditioning coach, Bruce Stevenson is team manager, while Manly’s Shute Shield head coach Chris Delooze has been instrumental in setting up their women’s program.
SOUTHERN DISTRICTS
Souths have drawn many players from the successful Burraneer Womens Rugby Club, who have excelled at Sevens.
Head coach Junior Ta’ale will be assisted this season by former Souths first grader Luke Smart.
The club is also building connections with country rugby and recruiting talented players from the Central West region.
Tiarne Cavanagh from the NSW Sevens and Swans AFLW programs, and Montana Ojeda from the Brumbies, have joined this season.
Some players have NRLW contracts but will feature for Souths during the JSC season.
Souths’ captain is Libby Holloway, sister of Waratah and Wallaby Jed Holloway.
GORDON
The Gazelles were champions in 2022, but went down in the semi-finals to eventual winners Easts last year.
They have lost a few players to higher honours over the pre-season, including Rosie Ebbage to Western Force, and both Katalina Amosa and Loretta Maialangi to the Brumbies.
But they’ve recruited new players from all over NSW, and will be led this season by captain Sarah Riordan - a former Wallaroos, Brumbies and Reds Super W player.
Gordon’s women’s XVs manager, Angela Flannery, said: “We are very passionate about our women’s program, not only with playing but coaching too. We are the only team in the competition that has a female head coach, Evelyn Horomia, for the third year in a row, which is massive for not only for our club and our values but also for this Sydney women’s premier competition.
“We will be having a young side this year but the future for Gordon is bright as these girls will be around for many years to come, and I’m sure we will get more girls into higher honours due to our women’s program being so successful.”
SYDNEY UNIVERSITY
After losing the JSC decider to Easts last year, Uni have also lost a few players due to the expansion of the women’s premier competition this year.
Head coach Teki Tuipulotu remains in charge, assisted by forwards coach Ben Higgins, scrum coach Wayne Erickson, breakdown coach Fi Jones, and strength and conditioning led Lou Lou Stanley.
The Lionesses have recruited 15 new players for 2024, and eight of them have not played rugby before.
Fapiola Uofalelahi, who is part of the Rebels Super W squad, is their club captain this year.
Sydney University’s director of rugby, Nick Ryan, said: “It is a great challenge as we strive for more women to enjoy, develop, and participate. With the new tackle height laws coming into play, the game will be in a much safer environment.
“Sydney Uni look forward to the challenges that lie ahead with having representatives in the Wallaroos and Super W teams, and we look to create more opportunities in the future for the next generation.
“Growing the sport is very important, with the World Cup in 2029, I am sure that we will see players running around in this comp, turn out for the green and gold in five years’ time.”
WARRINGAH
The Ratettes have six players in the extended Waratahs squad and a club group that includes a handful who’ve been at the club for five years.
Warringah finished strongly last year and will be looking for a finals berth in 2024.
New players to watch include Annika Mountstephens, Maddie Binding and Mackenzie Walker.
Sabine Blakeman is also back at Rat Park after some time away from the game.
After strong pre-seasons and a taste of the elite pathway system, Paris Ingegneri, Poppy Mayhew and April O’Neill are all tipped for big seasons.
WESTERN RAPTORS
This will be the Raptors’ maiden season in the premier women’s XVs competition and they’ll field a side with an average age of 21, most who come from league backgrounds.
The Raptors are coached by Teloni Marsters - the 2020 NSW Suburban coach of the year.
They’ve named Taytana Ah-Chung and Giavanna Leo as co-captains this year. Both have been involved with the Waratahs wider training group, and Leo is only 17 years old.
The squad is made up of players who have come through the Junior Raptors program, as well as first-time rugby players.
The club is determined to make a mark for rugby in Penrith.
CAMPBELLTOWN HARLEQUINS
The Harlequins make a return to the JSC for the first time in four years.
They’ll present a wealth of local talent including Minto girl and NSW Waratah Atasi Lafai, as well as Claymore player and ACT Brumby, Sally Fuesaina.
The roster also includes Kayla Sauvao (ACT Brumbies), Benita Ese (ACT Brumbies) and Hope Schuster (former Melbourne Rebels).
The team will be guided by head coach Donovan Nepia, and assistants Pauro Collier, Andrew Choice, Kam Faave-Eli and Danielle Hill – who was the Illawarra women’s rugby co-ordinator.
Originally published as Sydney women’s rugby scene bursting with new talent as Jack Scott Cup squads named
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