Southern Inland Rugby will roll out its free inaugural ‘Girls 7s – Try Tackle Program’ in Wagga, Griffith and Young in the coming months after compiling feedback from the women’s Southern Inland competition, Foxtel Touch 7s and the Brumbies Emerging Talent program.

Southern Inland development officer Zac Elliott said that while the majority of junior female players were developing good ball skills, tackling and confidence in contact had been identified as a potential areas of improvement.

“What we’re seeing in places like the Emerging Talent Camp is that although our girls have good catch-and-pass techniques, they’re struggling a bit more with their defence,” Elliott said.

“The Try Tackle program is our big push for girls to progress their game and learn how to confidently transition into sevens while focusing on tackling.”

The program will also work as a pathway for players in the lead up to the Brumbies’ Super Sevens series taking place in October and November.

Wagga will host the finals of the inaugural Super Sevens series, which will see under 18s, under 16s and under 14s youth girls sides competing in a four-week block across Canberra, Bateman’s Bay and Yass.

The finals will also feature an open women’s division along with under 18s and under 16s youth boys sides.

Elliott hopes the defensive skills and confidence bred by the Try Tackle program will assist the formation of junior girls competitions in Wagga.

“We’d love to see under 16s and even under 14s girls have their own competitions and playing contact sevens rugby,” he said.

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