RUGBY LEAGUE
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AFTER a meteoric rise through the ranks of women’s rugby league in 2015, Orange product Vanessa Foliaki topped off her bumper year with selection in the Women’s All Stars side.
After starring for the Australian Jillaroos at the Auckland Nines and then in the Anzac Test as well, the former Orange Hawks league tag gun was named on the All Stars’ bench for the side’s clash against their Indigenous counterparts at Suncorp Stadium next February, a curtain raiser to the Harvey Norman Rugby League All Stars Match.
The hard-hitting back-rower is expected to play a vital role in the side’s bid to down the Indigenous All Stars.
Jillaroos skipper Steph Hancock will lead Foliaki’s All Stars side, while centre Tallisha Harden will captain the Indigenous line-up.
This will be the fifth match for the women as part of the fixture, with the level of competition stepping up again next year, thanks to increased women’s pathways nationally and female participation levels across the game at an all time high.
The Indigenous team will field five debutants, whilst the All Stars will have six new faces in the team.
All Stars women’s coach Steve Folkes said the match was a fantastic opportunity to promote women in sport to a wide-ranging audience.
“We have more women than ever enjoying our game and playing in competitions right around the country,” Folkes said.
“There are very few women’s teams that get the chance to play at a world-class venue such as Suncorp Stadium and I have no doubt that both teams will soak up the surroundings. I am expecting a tough match.”
Both teams will join the men’s All Stars and Touch Football All Stars teams in camp as part of the build up in Brisbane ahead of the fixture.