There must be something in the water at Nyngan as the tiny town boasting a population of just 2000 people continues to produce an impressive number of junior superstars.
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It comes as Nyngan High School reports one of its biggest uptakes of female participants in Rugby 7s, according to Development Officer for the Waratahs, Gus McDonald.
“It's really growing out there, and the girls are keen to get into it which is great as well because there's so many pathways now in 7s, especially now for girls 7s and they’re embracing it which is great,” McDonald said.
Not only has Nyngan High’s Under 18s girls team qualified for the Combined High Schools (CHS) State Championships to be held later this year, they will also take centre stage in June after being invited to play an exhibition game of rugby tag against the Central Coast during the half time Wallabies and Ireland rugby test match.
Coach Cath Smith said all the girls are excited to play and give something different a go.
“We're super proud of them and their commitment to training,” Smith said. “They’re training every Wednesday during sport, Gus comes down and helps train them and yeah it's just exiting to see girls doing well.”
Coach Smith said she and the school are grateful to McDonald and the Waratahs for taking the girls under their wing to help them qualify for several competitions.
“It started through it being available and the girls seemed pretty keen to give it a go and it's just gone from there,” Smith said.
“They will go and play in that exhibition match and then hopefully that will go well and I think we're playing in Sydney at the Waratah Cup in early July and then the CHS later in the year.”
In less than six months Nyngan High have registered just shy of 40 girls to play Rugby 7s, which McDonald says is incredible for a town like Nyngan.
“There's plenty of talent in the school with the girls and it's good to see, and we're out there every Wednesday giving them a hand, but Cath Smith and Tristian Del Forno are really driving it,” McDonald said.
“I'm excited about it and it will be a brilliant experience for all the girls and everyone involved.”
McDonald said there is an abundance of talent in both boys and girls in the Western Plains region, and it is important to help young country kids play into a pathway.
From Nyngan after playing at the Country Championships in Warren last month, 17-year-old Alahna Ryan has been selected into the Country Merrits squad where she was one of 20 invited to the UNE 7s camp in Armidale.
“That’s the enjoyable part of this job, to actually see kids like Alahna, who have only been playing for six months and to get an opportunity like this is just pretty amazing,” McDonald said.
Zaarkacha Marlan
Court and crime reporter at the Daily Liberal. Formerly the sole journalist for the Nyngan Observer, Narromine News and Trangie Advocate.
Court and crime reporter at the Daily Liberal. Formerly the sole journalist for the Nyngan Observer, Narromine News and Trangie Advocate.
