The introduction of the Super W competition has unearthed more talent from the Sio family, who has already put their mark on rugby union across two generations.
Enter Talaopatina (Tina) and Ana-Lise (Ana) Sio: the inseparable pair of twin sisters of Wallaby prop Scott and brother Patrick, who until recently played club rugby in France.
Growing up playing in Sydney’s west for the Parramatta Two Blues together, younger twin Tina (only by 10 minutes) says they have always tackled their challenges as a team.
“We’ve done everything together,” she said. “We’ve done schooling, played basketball and we work together so competition (between us) comes naturally.
“We also have twin days; we literally pick days where we hang out with each other and I feel like that builds out bond together as twin sisters. Ana had a skydiving ticket she got from our 21st birthday last year which we did down at Wollongong. We drove down together and then afterwards we got a matching tattoo”
Former basketballers, the Sio Sisters didn’t get their first taste of rugby until they left school.
“For six years my sister and I played basketball. I think our turning point was our first year of uni,” Tina said.
Ana was hesitant at first, but it didn’t take long for the lock to come around.
“I asked my sister, I said: ‘look, both our brothers are doing pretty well at rugby and I think we should give it a crack’,” Tina said
Between their family influence and the rapid rise of women’s rugby, particularly in the Sevens format, two more Sios committed to the game.
“At the time, Women’s Sevens was coming up and they were getting a lot of exposure, and that was our big turning point towards playing rugby union,” Ana said.
Now in line to represent their State, the Sio sisters believe that the Super W competition further enhances the State and national pathway systems.
“I think this level is important for the progression of rugby in NSW and to give the foundations for the international team, the Wallaroos, which will help girls realise that rugby union is a sporting pathway that they can take,” Ana said.
“I think the end goal for us is to aim for the highest level, which is the Wallaroos and that’s definitely something we are setting our eyes on long term.
“Hopefully we can become pioneers for the sport and really take off from there.”
Tina has also set the bar high for herself and her sister.
“Making this step together in the Super W environment fuels the fire. Coming off as amateur players, you want to make that a goal for yourself,” she said.
And how do they plan to get there? Plain and simple:
“Work hard,” Tina said.
The Super W competition kicks of on Saturday 10 March at 4:00pm (AEST) against traditional rivals, Queensland Women’s at Suncorp Stadium.
