A once-in-a-lifetime experience, that’s what a combined under Central West’s under 16s and under 18s girls’ sevens sides were afforded last weekend – and they loved it.
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They didn’t just get to play the Central Coast in the curtain-raiser to the Wallabies Test match against Scotland, they had the chance to mix with the players, get tips from the coaches and have a crack in the South East Magic Sydney Sevens tournament.
“It was unbelievable,” NSW Rugby’s Far West development officer Angus McDonald said.
“The Wallabies went out of their way for them so it was great.
“To get into the captain’s run, that just doesn’t happen, it’s usually reserved but the Wallabies asked the girls to be there.
“After it they all shook hands, had a chat and got some photos so it was really good to see.”
The captain’s run was on Friday morning where the Central West stars-in-waiting, including Orange’s Charlotte Haling, Courtney Currie, Mollie Moloney, Millie Lenehan and Steph Lennon, got to see the Wallabies being put through their paces under head coach Michael Cheika.
Cheika and a number of players, the likes of captain Michael Hooper, Stephen Moore and also Quade Cooper, took the time to chat with the young guns before posing for photos.
Later that afternoon the sides took part in a training session run by Narromine product and former Waratah and Australian sevens player Pat McCutcheon and fellow NSW coach Tim Rapp.
“He was great with them,” McDonald said of McCutcheon.
“They put them through their paces and Patty’s background, playing for the Waratahs then sevens, it was really good to get his expertise and advice on things.”
The South East Magic Sydney Sevens tournament in Coogee was on Saturday morning before the curtain-raiser match.
It didn’t finish there either, with Haling holding the Australian flag during the national anthem prior to the Wallabies-Scotland kick off.
Central West, featuring players from Brewarrina, Coonabarabran, Narromine, Orange and Bathurst as well as Dubbo, impressed at the South East Magic Sydney Sevens tournament.
The 16s side scored two convincing wins while suffering defeat in the other two matches, one of those matches was decided in the final moments against a competition favourite.
“It was brilliant. They’ve all really got some skills,” McDonald said, before speaking about the curtain-raiser itself.
“They were all really nervous playing on that kind of stage but some of the Wallabies came out and watched.”
Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
