Tamworth taggers are hitting the world stage this season as the association continues to punch above its weight on the representative scene.
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Following the Tamworth U18 girls undefeated victory at the National Championships in Coffs Harbour last month several of those girls as well as a handful of players from other divisions have all got the call up to the green and gold jersey, while a host of other locals returned from New Zealand this week after contesting the Oceania Cup.
Co-captains of the U18 girls Abby Schmiedel and Brodii Ingram both made the cut, as did team mates Taylor Holcombe, Paris Knox and Hope Martin.
Rachel Schmiedel and Mandy Sullivan also made their respective national squads, while the State Cup winning Tamworth over 50s men’s side had four players named.
Garth Pennefather, Jock Stier, Michael McKinnon and Richard Rowlings also getting an opportunity to put the crest on their chest.
For Abby Schmiedel this is the second time she has been named in a national side and the prolific try scorer is still coming to terms with the news.
“It has been a bit overwhelming really,” Abby said.
“It has been a pretty good year.”
“We were the first girls team from Tamworth to win at Nationals and now we are aiming to keep that team together and win the State Cup as well next year.”
The Australian squads will all go into a training camp early next year where final teams for the Big Four will be selected and the tournament dates and venues confirmed.
“The five of us from the same team are going to stay with the team and just train hard for the squad session and hopefully make the final side,” Abby said.
Meanwhile Tahlia Tiberi has returned from the Oceania Cup as a champion after her U16 Australian Rebels side also went through undefeated, while 13 other Tamworth players all took part.
Over 14 nationalities were represented at the tournament, with Tamworth President Pam Potts claiming it was a great competition to be a part of.
Paris Knox won the Plate final with the U18 Indigenous side, while Sam Fulwood played for the boys indigenous side, with sister Stephanie, joining Knox and Holcombe in the Indigenous 21s side.
Aiden Potts was part of the opens indigenous squad, while again Tamworth was heavily represented in the Over 45 mens division with Geoff Sharpe, Mark Sheppard, Brett Follington, Scott Keogh, Gavin Chesterfield, Greg Thomas and Ray Aslin getting called in late to the Rebels side that went all the way to the grand final.