The NSW Waratahs Women’s squad assembles in Daceyville, Sydney on Monday to prepare for their Santos Festival of Rugby clashes against the Queensland Reds.
Selectors have announced a thirty-player squad that will be culled to twenty-four for the tournament to be held at Narrabri, northern NSW on 20-21 September.
The Santos Festival of Rugby, to be held at Narrabri’s Dangar Park, also includes games against the Queensland Reds for NSW Waratahs Women’s Sevens.
The festival features men's fixtures against for NSW Waratahs Super AUS, NSW Waratahs U19s, NSW Country against the Queensland Reds, as well as the Classic Wallabies who will play local favouurites, the Narrabri Blue Boars Over 35s.
The NSW Waratahs Women’s squad is a mixture of experienced Super Rugby Women’s and emerging talent who selectors hope will provide a deep pool of depth for the future.
“We are really excited about the squad we have assembled for the Santos Festival of Rugby,” NSW Waratahs Women Head Coach Mike Ruthven said.
“Twelve of our championship winning Super Rugby Women’s Squad are available for the game against the Reds.
“They will be joined by an exciting mix of players from our current Next Gen 7’s Squad, players from the NSW Rugby Union Under 18 representative pathways and players who have performed well and thoroughly deserve an opportunity from the Chikarovski Cup.
“We have assembled thirty players for this preparation block, and we are confident that we will land on a great squad of twenty-four players to got to Narrabri.”
Ruthven said the Santos Festival of Rugby offers both an exciting rugby adventure and opportunity for players to impress selectors.
“The opportunity to go and represent the NSW Waratahs is a privilege and when that opportunity is against the Queensland Reds it always has a little more meaning to it," Ruthven said.
“We will rely heavily on the experience of the likes of Bella McKenzie, Emily Robinson, and Tatum Bird to ensure the group understands what it means to represent the NSW Waratahs and how important this fixture is.
“As a coaching group we are really excited to have such a tented group coming in and being back out on grass doing what we love.
“This fixture presents a great opportunity for us to engage with a group of players that we haven’t previously seen in our environment.
“We are looking forward to all those players coming in with a great sense of confidence and belief in their ability.
“Our responsibility is to create an environment where they can express themselves on and off the field in such a short period of time.”
Ruby Anderson
Rachel Balcomb
Tatum Bird
Hollie Cameron
Tiarne Cavanagh
Jewel Faaui
Rosie Ferguson
Grace Gillies
Martha Harvey
Taj Heald
Paris Ingegneri
Elissa Langi
Kailani Leota
Coco Marsters
Arabella McKenzie
Claudia Meltzer
Britt Merlo
Georgia Moore
Tahilia Morgan
Nicole Nathan
Makenzi Nelson
Mille Parker
Emily Robinson
Emily Sheather
Aroha Spillane
Kiana Vatabua
Lusiana Vesikula
Siusiuosalafai Volkman
Ella Walker
Amelia Whitaker
Classic Wallabies Kids Clinic, 12:30pm – 1:30pm
NSW Waratahs Women’s Rugby Sevens vs. Queensland Reds, 2:00pm
NSW Waratahs Women vs. Queensland Reds, 2:30pm
NSW Waratahs Women’s Rugby Sevens vs Queensland Reds, 4:30pm
NSW Waratahs Super Rugby AUS vs Queensland Reds, 5:45pm
NSW Country vs Queensland Country, U18 Girls, 9:00am
NSW Waratahs Women’s Rugby Sevens vs Queensland Reds, 10:20am
Classic Wallabies vs. Narrabri Blue Boars Over 35s, 11:00am
NSW Waratahs Women’s Rugby Sevens vs Queensland Reds, 12:00pm
NSW Waratahs Super U19s vs Queensland Reds, 1:00pm
