RUGBY union in the region will enter an exciting new era next year with junior girls' sevens tackle competitions set to be introduced by Southern Inland Rugby Union.
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But it won't stop the likes of Addison Dean from trying to "belt the boys" in 2020.
Dean, 11, played her first season of rugby this year in an under-12 mixed team, and father Glen says she will continue to play that and add all-girls rugby to her schedule.
"I think if they play a girls only sevens comp she'd love to play both," Dean said.
"Her favourite activity all winter was trying to belt the boys off the park, and that won't change next season."
SIRU is looking to bring in under-13, under-15 and under-17 competitions. Girls currently play in predominately boys teams until under-14s, then have only non-contact options available before they're ready for a women's competition.
Wagga Crows president Erica Beggs believes the attraction of playing tackle with their friends will result in an increase in girls participating.
"We're expecting the number of girls in our club to grow," Beggs said.
"We're hoping we'll draw a lot of girls who have wanted to play, with the drawcard being they're playing against other girls instead of boys, which can sometimes put them off."
Southern Inland rugby manager Jack Heffernan said the introduction of tackle sevens in juniors will give girls with aspirations of playing at high levels to get used to contact before moving into the senior ranks.
"The clubs have been pushing for it for a couple of years, we didn't want to go straight into the deep end and make sure it works," he said.
"We talked about it for 2019 but it didn't quite come off, this year we're a bit more confident in the number of girls interested.
"With the Olympics on next year we're sure a lot of players will come on board."
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