The Easts Tigers are inviting interested players to sign on to be a part of their inaugural Women’s rugby league team.
Sign on will take place next Wednesday evening (January 18) at the Easts Leagues Club.
Kicking off in the QRL’s South East Division’s Division 1 competition in March, the Tigers will be led by three members of the Australian Jillaroo squad in Karina Brown, Vanessa Foliaki and Sasha Mahuika.
All former Burleigh Bears players who were part of the premiership-winning team last season; the trio are excited to be facing a new challenge by forming the Tigers team.
Brown was the founder of the Burleigh women’s team and captain for the past five seasons, leading the Bears to premiership victory in 2015 and 2016.
Brown said she wanted to take what she had learnt during the past five seasons and provide other players with opportunities through development and support.
“This is a great opportunity to grow the game and build a sustainable and successful club team in terms of the women’s rugby league,” Brown said.
Although leaving the Bears was a tough decision, Brown said she believed it was the right one for the women’s game and said the move wouldn’t have been possible without the well wishes from all her former team-mates and supporters, which came in abundance.
Easts Tigers CEO Brian Torpy said the club were looking forward to fielding a Women’s team in the SEQ competition.
“We are in the pioneering stages of the women’s game and want to provide a pathway for girls and women to transition from the grassroots level to the elite representative levels of the game,” Torpy said.
“We aim to provide our Women’s team with the same training, development and education opportunities as we do our men’s teams.”
Easts Tigers Women’s team sign on
When: Wednesday, January 18, 2017
Time: 7pm
Where: Auditorium of the Easts Leagues Club, 40 Main Ave, Coorparoo
Notes: Meet at reception, smart casual dress (no thongs as it’s in the leagues club)
Head Coach: Duane Rehua
Assistants: Marshall Dore and Hamiora Wanoa
Contact: brian@eastsleagues.com.au for more information
*Stay tuned to QRL.com.au for more Women and Girls news, including an update on the revamped SEQ Women’s competition for season 2017.
