Australian women's rugby star Mahalia Murphy will be an inspiring presence when the Central North under-15 and under-17 girls and open boys put the final touches on their Country Championship preparations in Tamworth this weekend.
Murphy will be on hand on Saturday to watch the youngsters go through their paces ahead of next weekend’s championships on the Central Coast. She will also run her own session and present the jerseys to the players.
Later Murphy, who has represented Australia in both union and rugby league, will be involved in a Q&A as part of a dinner for the three squads at the Southgate Inn, which will be followed by a rugby themed trivia night.
“It’s going to be a good weekend,” under-15s girls co-coach Jeremy Maslen said.
He said his side are very excited about Murphy’s visit.
“It’s going to be great,” co-captain Erika Maslen said.
“The things we will be able to learn from someone that has played at a high level will be great.”
Some of Pirates’ first grade players will also be providing their expertise over the weekend.
It is the first opportunity the under-15s girls have had to go away, and will be a bit of a learning curve.
“It will be a big step up for most of these girls,” [Jeremy] Maslen said.
Not just from an age perspective, with the side a mix of last years under-13s side, and under-15s players, but the fact that the championships will be 10-a-side.
Most of them are more accustomed to sevens.
“A lot of the girls have never played 10s before. But it will be great for us to play 10s,” Erika said.
