A wealth of NSW Waratah’s Women will be heading to Fiji this November with Australia A for the Oceania Rugby Women’s Championship in Lautoka.
NSW is well-represented across the squad with 11 inclusions – including Kennedy Cherrington, Sera Naiqama, Eva Karpani and Fi Jones.
The next generation of Australian women’s rugby will assemble for the tournament, featuring a mix of capped and up-and-coming players who have been identified as future Wallaroos. The tournament will give the squad valuable international experience against some of the best nations from our region.
Australia A has been placed in Pool B alongside Fiji and Papua New Guinea. A Black Ferns Development side will play Samoa and Tonga in Pool B.
Fiji, PNG, Tonga and Samoa will all be battling it out for Rugby World Cup qualification for the tournament’s next rendition in New Zealand in 2021, with Australia and New Zealand having already qualified for the tournament.
Buildcorp Wallaroos Head Coach, Dwayne Nestor said the Championships would be a valuable learning experience for the wider squad.
“This tournament gives us an excellent opportunity to expose more players to the wider Wallaroos program and show them the standard required to play internationally,” Nestor said.
“2020 is a very important year for the Wallaroos as we put together the final building blocks for the 2021 Rugby World Cup.
“More game time is crucial to growing our depth and I am looking forward to this tour bringing out more players that can compete at Test level.”
The team will be coached by Queensland Reds Head Coach, Moana Virtue with Alana Thomas of the Melbourne Rebels Women as her Assistant.
Australia A Fixtures
Monday 18 November, Australia A v Tonga, 12.30pm AEDT
Friday 22 November, Australia A v Black Ferns Development, 12.30pm AEDT
Tuesday 26 November, Australia A v Samoa, 12.30pm AEDT
Australia A Squad for Oceania Rugby Women’s Championship
Grace Kemp, Brumbies Women
Michaela Leonard, Brumbies Women
Remi Wilton, Brumbies Women
Samantha Wood, Brumbies Women
Piper Duck, NSW Waratahs Women
Kennedy Cherrington, NSW Waratahs Women
Courtney Frankl, NSW Waratahs Women
Fi Jones, NSW Waratahs Women
Asoiva (Eva) Karpani, NSW Waratahs Women
Atasi Lafai, NSW Waratahs Women
Lillyann Mason, NSW Waratahs Women
Arabella Mckenzie, NSW Waratahs Women
Sera Naiqama, NSW Waratahs Women
Tasmin Sheppard, NSW Waratahs Women
Maya Stewart, NSW Waratahs Women
Millie Boyle, Queensland Reds
Alana Elisaia, Queensland Reds
Toa (Dora) Filimoehala, Queensland Reds
Georgina Friedrichs, Queensland Reds
Courtney Hodder, Queensland Reds
Averyl Mitchell, Queensland Reds
Kirby Sefo, Queensland Reds
Christina Sekona, Queensland Reds
Zahara Temara, Queensland Reds
Georgia Cormick, Melbourne Rebels Women
Janita Kareta, Melbourne Rebels Women
Tiarah Minns, Melbourne Rebels Women
Titilia Yabaki, Melbourne Rebels Women
