Newly appointed NSW Waratahs Women’s Head Coach, Campbell Aitken has trimmed his pre-season squad, naming his final 30 players for the 2020 Buildcorp Super W season.
The two-time Champions will be looking to secure an unprecedented third title this season, and have maintained the core of the squad assembled in the competition’s inaugural season.
They’ll welcome back a Wallaroo contingent that features the likes of Grace Hamilton, Emily Chancellor, Emily Robinson, Eva Karpani and Iliseva Batibasaga.
Aitken will have 13 players at his disposal who have been capped for their country.
He’ll also have a selection of players from the ‘Australia A’ side that took part in the Oceania Women’s Championship including Sera Naiqama, Kennedy Cherrington, Maya Stewart and Courtney Frankl.
Two players from that tour – Lilyann Mason-Spice and Piper Duck – have been included in their first Super W squad after also impressing in the AON 7s.
They’ll be joined by fellow newcomers Aaliyah Fa’amausili, Bridie O’Gorman, Jade Huggins and Adiana Talakai – the sister of Chris from NSW’s Super Rugby squad.
Former QLD Red and Australian 7s representative, Georgina Friedrichs has also been named in the NSW Waratahs Women’s squad after turning out for Randwick Magic in 2019.
Blacktown Warriors Pauline Pilae also enters her first Super W season, having recently arrived in NSW from New Zealand having played in the Farah Palmer Cup.
NSW Waratahs Women’s Head Coach, Campbell Aitken said selecting his final squad proved a challenging task.
“We’ve put together a really strong squad, we’re [coaching staff] excited about getting stuck into preparations for the season ahead,” Aitken said.
“In saying that, we had to make some tough decisions and leave out some fantastic players who did a great job over the last month of training.
“Through the Jack Scott Cup and the programs run by NSW Rugby we have developed some incredible depth right across the park, which has also seen us have some strong representation at a national level.
“It’s always tough leaving players out but I’d like to thank everyone for being part of our pre-season program.”
Aitken said he was excited about the potential of some of the squad’s fresh faces.
“Players like Lilyann Mason-Spice and Piper Duck are really exciting prospects,” added Aitken.
“To have them in a Super W environment and around experienced players week-in-week-out is only going to benefit their development as players.”
NSW Waratahs Women 2020 Super W squad:
|
First Name |
Last Name |
Club |
|
Aaliyah |
Fa’amausili* |
Randwick |
|
Adiana |
Talakai* |
Sydney University |
|
Arabella |
McKenzie |
Randwick |
|
Asoiva (Eva) |
Karpani |
Randwick |
|
Atasi |
Lafai |
Campbelltown |
|
Bridie |
O'Gorman* |
Sydney University |
|
Chloe |
Western Sydney Two Blues |
|
|
Courtney |
Frankl |
Eastern Suburbs |
|
Emily |
Chancellor |
Sydney University |
|
Emily |
Robinson |
Warringah |
|
Evelyn |
Horomia |
Western Sydney Two Blues |
|
Fi |
Jones |
Sydney University |
|
Georgina |
Freidrichs |
Randwick |
|
Grace |
Hamilton |
Sydney University |
|
Iliseva |
Batibasaga |
Sydney University |
|
Jade |
Huggins* |
Western Sydney Two Blues |
|
Jemima |
Henry |
Campbelltown |
|
Katrina |
Barker |
Newcastle Waratahs |
|
Kennedy |
Cherrington |
Randwick |
|
Layne |
Morgan* |
Randwick |
|
Lillyann |
Mason – Spice* |
Central West |
|
Maya |
Stewart |
Newcastle Waratahs |
|
Melissa |
Fatu |
Western Sydney Two Blues |
|
Noella |
Green |
Sydney University |
|
Oneata |
Schwalger |
Randwick |
|
Pauline |
Piliae* |
Blacktown |
|
Piper |
Duck* |
Sydney University |
|
Sera |
Naiqama |
Sydney University |
|
Shanice |
Parker |
Warringah |
|
Taz |
Sheppard |
Sydney University |
