In 2020, Port Adelaide RUFC are fielding their first Women's team in over 10 years.
The team started from some trepidation but interested partners of current mens players as well as female players who enjoyed themselves during a successful 2019 Touch 7s competition, held at the Club in the off season.
The culture and excitement of having the women involved has allowed the team to grow organically – players bringing out a mate, someone they know from work, or someone they know from another sport!
With over 25 registered players for the 2020 season (only 4 of which have played rugby before 2020), the ladies are taking their first matches in their stride – strong encouragement and support for each other and committed to seeing individual and team improvement each week.
Training has focused on the "fun"damentals of rugby, with an emphasis on the fun and the safety required for a rugby player.
Coach Pete Garden says “I just love to watch them play. Training is the opportunity to develop and identify work-ons, but once Saturday rolls around, they take it upon themselves to implement and own that process. It’s great to see all these women understand the ‘true’ meaning of a ‘gate’, to ‘clean out’ and of course, what happens in the magic of a scrum”.
Port Adelaide take on Old Collegians this weekend at Tregenza, another returning team to the Rugby SA Women's Competition. Good luck to both teams!
