Queensland names first university women’s rugby league team

NAMED: Queensland has written its name into the rugby league history books after naming its first ever women’s university team. See who made the team here.

Highfields Eagles player Taylah Hancock has been named in the inaugural Queensland Women’s University team. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Rugby league history will be made next week and the Darling Downs will play a huge role.

Three Downs players – Sarah Milton, Sara Slater and Taylah Hancock – have been named in the first ever Queensland Universities Women’s team alongside.

Selection in the team was an absolute shock for Milton, 32, who is currently studying a Bachelor of Nursing at UniSQ.

“Trad McLean, who is the University Rugby League Queensland chairman, called me last week and told me I was in the team,” Milton said.

“It was a real shock to be honest. I’m 32 and the first thing I asked Trad was ‘am I the oldest in the team’ and he said yes.

“That was a shock to think I’m keeping up with the young players but it’s a real honour.”

The 19-player team will play an exhibition match against Queensland PNG Rugby League Kokomos Open Women’s team on October 19 at the Gold Coast’s Cbus Super Stadium.

Milton who lines up in the halves and played for the Dalby Diehards in the Toowoomba Rugby League Women’s competition this season said the prospect of playing the PNG side is a little bit daunting.

“It’s going to be an amazing experience – this concept is proof of how rapidly the game is progressing now,” she said.

“But at the same time it is a little bit daunting.

“You know they (PNG) are going to be a physical and talented side.

“We’re all really looking forward to the challenge though.”

Queensland and New South Wales universities have played each other since the 1970s but this match marks the first time a QLD women’s team has been formed.

“This is a big moment for both the Universities Rugby League Queensland organisation and the women’s game in this state in general,” URLQ chairman Trad McLean said.

“This started as simply a concept, and we were blown away by the response we had to applications for a team that has never been assembled before.

“We really want to thank the Queensland PNG Rugby League Kokomos Open Women’s team for agreeing to be part of this occasion and allowing our team to have a proper game.

“Hopefully next year this can become a true interstate clash between the Queensland Universities Women’s team and their NSW counterparts.”

Kick off is at 1.30pm on Saturday, October 19 with the match part of double header alongside a universities interstate game men’s game.