Nambour Toads women’s rugby union top players for 2022

Nambour Toads women's rugby head coach Luke Zeremes has revealed which of his players will be the ones to watch in 2022. See the full list:

Nambour Toads women's rugby union will look to continue their dominant rise on the Sunshine Coast as head coach Luke Zeremes reveals his team’s next generation stars ahead of the 2022 season.

After making the move from the Noosa Dolphins to the Toads in 2018, Zeremes has helped Nambour become a powerhouse women's rugby union club from the under-15s to the senior competitions.

Zeremes said he was proud of the growth and recognition that women's rugby had received in recent years.

“The growth on the Coast is definitely there which is good as the senior competition has gone from five to seven teams this year and there’s growth in the youth under-15s and under-17s as well,” he said.

“As much as you like to win games we’re about trying to develop individual players and help them with their representative goals as much as winning premierships.

“The quality of rugby being played with the youth teams across the Coast is just ridiculous as their game understanding and game knowledge is brilliant so it’s very exciting times for women's rugby union on the Coast.”

Nambour Toads women’s rugby union head coach Luke Zeremes. Picture: Patrick Woods.

In 2021, former Noosa Dolphins captain Tess Evans and current Maroochydore Swans player Angela Coombes spearheaded a statewide push to boost female participation in the sport.

Zeremes said more effort was being used to retain and guide the region's top talent.

“There’s definitely excellent pathways available and I was even involved in a pilot program with the Queensland Academy of Sevens (QAS) last year so it seems as if Queensland Rugby Union (QRU) and QAS are identifying those pathways for the fifteen and seven-a-side formats,” he said.

“The recent selection of some of our girls in the Youth Super W team is awesome and that’s a whole other pathway that exists for them now.

“I certainly think those girls have shown you don’t have to go to Brisbane in order to be selected in those higher representative teams.”

Nambour Toads women’s rugby union team are excited for the 2022 season. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Zeremes said he enjoyed bringing a softer approach to weekly training.

“As a club we try to be a bit lighter on from time to time like the other night was party shirt night so everyone dressed up and wore some of their flashiest shirts,” he said.

“We do lots of things during the season to mix it up so it’s not just rugby, rugby, rugby because you want people to enjoy coming to training and having a good time.”

In no particular order the Daily has revealed Nambour’s top rugby union talents to keep an eye on in 2022.

Nambour women’s ‘next generation’ stars

Kiera Dunbar

Kiera Dunbar has been named as a player to watch in 2022. Picture: Patrick Woods.

“Kiera was the under-17s Stingrays captain last year and is stepping up into the women's squad this season,” he said.

“She is really looking forward to playing women's as she is strong enough, talented enough and performed well at the open women’s 7s carnival.

“She is just a girl that has a fantastic attitude and heaps of potential.”

Sophia Collins

Sophia Collins has been named as a player to watch in 2022. Picture: Patrick Woods.

“Sophia is still in high school at Siena and it is her first season of club rugby,” he said.

“She has excellent vision, is a solid defender and has a great skill set.

“Despite being a bit nervous in her first game against Caboolture she had a standout game so she is one that will improve a lot as the season progresses and she gains more confidence.”

Georgia Flood

Georgia Flood has been named as a player to watch in 2022. Picture: Patrick Woods.

“Georgia is only 16-years-old but was recently selected in the Queensland Youth Super W side,” he said.

“She is still very young but has awesome rugby IQ and a great skill set so once she sorts out her position a little bit more in the 12-a-side format she will be a very dangerous player.”

Keira Smith

“Keira has been a bit of a standout player at the school level over the last couple of years and has also represented the Sunshine Coast Stingrays and Queensland Country,” he said.

“She’s a pretty elusive runner and very effective at the breakdown as the referees have nicknamed her ‘Pocock’ for her pilfering ability.

“She is definitely an exciting one to watch for sure.”

Kimberley Bloomfield

Kimberley Bloomfield has been named as a player to watch in 2022. Picture: Patrick Woods.

“Kimberley and her twin sister Phoebe have been with us for three years now and are referred to as our ‘OG’s’,” he said.

“Kimber played women’s last year as a 17-year-old and had a really good season so excited to see what she can do this season.

“She’s tough, a strong ball carrier and an extremely reliable defender.”

Phoebe Bloomfield

Phoebe Bloomfield has been named as a player to watch in 2022. Picture: Patrick Woods.

“Phoebe focused on 7s last year but will play women's this year as our scrum half,” he said.

“She’s got a great pass, good speed and has already showed she isn't afraid to back herself which is good.”

Megan Prinsloo

Megan Prinsloo getting the ball with some room to move. Picture: Chris Lodge

“Megan has joined us from USC Barbarians this year and has played in the Queensland Country side last year,” he said.

“She also worked with us at the Nambour 7s program later on in the year and just has qualities that can’t be coached like being tenacious and being in the contest at every stage of the game.

“She has proven to be a real leader for our club as well and someone who has a fantastic future in women’s rugby I’m sure.”

Bek Murtagh

“Bek comes from a hockey background and she joined our women's team last year,” he said.

“She is still quite a raw player but is very strong and is starting to realise how to use her body in rugby which obviously coming from hockey would have its challenges.

“She will play prop for us and is a very dynamic ball playing forward who I think will go to the next level this year.”

Originally published as Nambour Toads women’s rugby union top players for 2022