New teen girls only academy set to change the face of rugby union

From Emilee Cherry to Dominique du Toit, the Darling Downs has produced some of Australian rugby’s greatest female players. Now a new specialist academy is set radically change how teenage girls see, play and experience the game. Details here.

LEAD Rugby Academy owners Cassius and Hannah Elisaia-Mamea with player Josie Ostwald. Picture: Kevin Farmer

The Darling Downs rugby landscape is set for a radical overhaul that may unearth the next Emilee Cherry.

Kicking off in July, L.E.A.D Rugby Academy is set provide specialist programming and development for teenage female players.

Built on four major pillars – learn, empower, achieve and develop – the academy is the brainchild of husband and wife duo Cassius and Hannah Elisaia-Mamea.

“What sets us apart is how we bring together all the heads of what development should look like,” Cassius said.

“Skills, strength and conditioning, mindset, recovery and nutrition – all specifically for young teenage girls.

“Our goal is to help develop and lift grassroots rugby.

“To do that we’ve created a three-day holistic development course we think will really help young girls take their game to the next level.”

LEAD Rugby Academy owners Cassius and Hannah Elisaia-Mamea.

With her husband Cassius bringing more than a decade of rugby experience, Hannah adds what they believe will be one of the academy’s biggest strengths.

Hannah believes it is vital that young women are empowered with the right knowledge and tools to succeed.

“The craziest thing and this is what has fuelled my passion for the academy was I learnt while I was listening podcast when I was 26 years old how much a girls body physically changes when they go through puberty,” Hannah said.

“Your shoulders get wider and your Q-angle in your hips change among other changes.

“So when you’re a young female you’re running around with everyone and suddenly when you go through puberty, your body physically changes and suddenly you can’t run as fast, or jump as high and do other things as easily as before.

“I couldn’t believe I didn’t know that until I was 26.

“If I was equipped with that knowledge as a teenager imagine what I could’ve achieved if I understood my menstrual cycle … training, recovering and my nutrition around my menstrual cycle.

“If we can give them that knowledge it’s not just going to benefit them in sport it’s going to benefit them in life.

“It’s important we empower girls with the right knowledge because their needs are very different – that’s why we created the academy.”

The first L.E.A.D Rugby Academy camp will be held from July 11 to 13. Find the academy on Instagram for more details and to register.