Hosting the NSW Waratahs and Melbourne Rebels on Sunday, March 24 is a massive coup for the Bathurst Bulldogs, there’s no doubting that, but the Super W clash will also provide a homecoming of sorts for two Central West products.
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Obviously one of those is Panuara’s Grace Hamilton, a star of the Waratahs’ inaugural title win last year and one of the Wallaroos’ best in recent times, and the other is former Orange Emus and Forbes Platypi ace Alana Thomas.
Thomas was announced as the Rebels’ head coach late last year and while it’s not quite Orange, March’s clash at Ashwood Park will be the first time both she and Hamilton have had the chance to return to the region in their respective capacities as player and mentor.
That's one factor Bulldogs president Greg Reid is excited about, but more than anything he’s just stoked to his club snagged hosting rights for what he says will be a big coup for the entire region.
“We only found last week, I’d been in discussions with the Waratahs before Christmas and it’s great we were successful,” Reid enthused.
“Having a Super W game here in the Central West is a huge coup for rugby and for Bathurst. It will be some of the top female athletes in the country that are coming.
“Women’s rugby is thriving not only in the Central West, but in Australia and worldwide, so this is a continuation of that.”
On that, Reid says his club is looking to turn the day into a women’s rugby extravaganza, although the full schedule is yet to be confirmed.
“They are still sorting things out, we might even be hosting a Sydney women’s 10s tournament in the lead up and we are trying to get some junior girls games on if we can, just to continue the female theme,” Reid said.
“We are really excited, it will attract a lot of people and a lot of attention … it should really help grow rugby in the area.”
Hamilton is among nine Wallaroos the Waratahs have named to try and back up last year’s undefeated, title-winning season, the others are Emily Chancellor, Melissa Fatu, Evelyn Horomia, Fi Jones, Crystal Maguire, Shanice Parker, Mahalia Murphy and Em Robinson.
Considering that the Waratahs are expected to entire this year’s Super W competition as short-priced title favourites, while the Rebels are at the other end of the spectrum.
They ran through last year’s competition winless but there was a number of positives from the campaign, like unearthing Wallaroos Alice Tonumaivao and Georgia Cormick, both of whom return for their 2019 campaign.
With Swiss international Camille Chamodon on board as well and more time to plan and prepare, Thomas says she’s confident Melbourne can lift themselves from the Super W cellar in 2019.
“It is really exciting, the players and staff have really worked hard over the past couple of months,” Thomas, who was the only female head coach in the competition last year, told RUGBY.com.au.
“The players have made the coaches have some really good discussions around the selection table.
“Last year was tough, but a great learning opportunity for everyone involved.
“We learnt a lot of lessons from 2018 which made us change the setup of our program and training session plan to really target the areas that let us down.
“I have said from day one that 2019 is about depth and closing the gap which translates to our playing group depth, our skills, our fitness and our knowledge.
“Right from before Christmas I have been quietly confident with how we are tracking, and I believe this group is already showing signs that the performances in 2019 will be better.”
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