Next generation of Queensland Women’s Sevens talent bound for Hokkaido
The next generation of Queensland Women’s Sevens stars are bound for Hokkaido in Japan, with Queensland Rugby invited to compete in the inaugural Hokkaido Governor’s Cup Women’s Sevens Tournament.
The event, which will run over Friday 23 September and Saturday 24 September, will be played at the Hokkaido Barbarians Rugby Club. A total of 12 teams will take part from around Japan, as well as international teams including Auckland, Waikato and the South African national team.
The 12-woman Queensland side consists of members of the Queensland Academy of Sport (QAS) Women’s Sevens Academy, run by Queensland Rugby Union (QRU). Academy head coach Lachlan Parkinson will also coach the team on tour.
“The event in Hokkaido is a fantastic opportunity to have our Queensland girls play at an international tournament,” Parkinson said.
“There are quality sides competing and we’re really excited to provide the team with a chance to compete on the international stage and test themselves at a higher level.
“It’s fantastic to see events like this coming into the fray and to have our Queensland side invited to participate shows the development of our program. The experience will be beneficial for all the players, especially our younger squad members who will also be representing the Australian Youth Sevens team later this year.”
Queensland players Lily Dick, Kiara Taylor, Elizabeth De Lange and Katie Curtis will represent Australia in December this year, as part of the Australian Youth Sevens team that will travel to New Zealand on a development tour.
The side bound for Hokkaido also includes Youth Commonwealth Games Gold Medalist Emma Sykes, and will be led by 2014 Youth Olympic Gold Medalist Marioulla Belessis.
With Rugby in Japan ever growing, with the country set to host the 2019 Rugby World Cup and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the tour provides the opportunity for Queensland Rugby to showcase its Women’s Sevens program in one of the world’s burgeoning Rugby markets.
“It’s an extremely important part about why we wanted to take part in the Hokkaido tournament. It provides us with a chance to showcase our pathway here in Queensland and stress how important Women’s Sevens and the Women’s game are to Queensland Rugby,” Parkinson said.
“I know the team will be great ambassadors and hopefully we can attend year-after-year in the lead up to the Tokyo Olympics.
“Events such as the tournament in Hokkaido show the worldwide nature of the game, it’s a massive opportunity for our players to have the chance to travel internationally and compete. It shows the next generation that Rugby isn’t just an Australian sport, it’s a game played in many different countries and there are great opportunities to travel and play the game without having to make the national side.”
“To have Queensland Rugby invited to attend event such as this, it allows us to provide incentive to aspiring players and boost participation in the sport.”
For Belessis, she is looking forward to earning some valuable game time after returning from injury, while also having the chance to represent Queensland at an international tournament.
“Anytime you get the chance to pull on the Queensland jersey is special, we’ve been doing so much training together so it will be great to play alongside the girls,” Belessis said.
“It’s an ultimate goal to play in the Tokyo Olympics in 2020, but I’m coming back from a shoulder reconstruction so it’s step-by-step at the moment and this tournament provides a great chance to get some game time under my belt and represent the state.
“I think that now there is a clear pathway to the Olympics, it’s an easy sport to get involved in and if you have the opportunity to train as part of the Queensland squad, it provides you with the chance to work towards the national team. There aren’t many sports that offer the opportunities that Sevens does to travel and compete internationally.”
Queensland Rugby will provide updates on the progress of the team while in Hokkaido via the Reds Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Queensland Women’s Sevens squad that will compete at Hokkaido Governor’s Cup Women’s Sevens Tournament:
- Elizabeth Cook-Black – Cairns
- Lily Dick – Gold coast
- Kiri Lingman – Brisbane
- Katie Curtis – Gold Coast
- Marioulla Belessis – Brisbane (C)
- Emma Sykes – Sunshine Coast
- Charlotte Kennington – Brisbane
- Erica Fowler – Sunshine Coast
- Elizabeth De Lange – Brisbane
- Lauren Brown – Gold Coast
- Kiara Taylor – Toowoomba
- Samantha Hopkin – Brisbane
Coach – Lachlan Parkinson
Manager – Owen Flynn
Physio – Chari Stewart
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