Australian Rugby Union marks International Women's Day with new Sevens video

Thu, Mar 8, 2012, 1:00 AM
AAP
by AAP

To celebrate International Women’s Day Australian Rugby Union today officially launched a new Women’s Sevens video aimed at encouraging young women to take up the fast, fun and exciting Olympic Sport.

Starring Qantas Women’s Sevens captain Rebecca Tavo, the 90 second video will be used at high school presentations by ARU Development Officers to educate young women of the elite and social opportunities Rugby Sevens can offer.

Tavo, who is preparing to compete in the upcoming IRB Women’s Sevens Challenge Cup, which kicks-off on Friday 23 March, said she was excited to be able to help promote the game to young women around the country.

“I’ve had the amazing opportunity to play Rugby Sevens for my country and win a world championship so I am always keen to do anything I can to help promote the game,” Tavo said.

“One of the great things about Rugby Sevens is that it’s such an easy game to learn and a fun game to play.

“Whether you’ve got a drive to play for Australia to win an Olympic Gold Medal or you just want to have fun with some friends in a social competition Rugby Sevens lets you do that.

“I’d encourage every young girl out there who is thinking about taking up a sport to give Sevens a go.

“It’s fun, fast and exciting and you never know where it could lead you, what may start as a bit of fun could turn into a trip to the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.”

The launch of the video comes just a few weeks after the release of the 2011 participation figures, which showed women’s playing numbers across Australia rose by 5.1% last year.

In October ARU will hold the first ever National School Girl’s Sevens Championships on the Gold Coast, which will coincide with the Gold Coast Sevens – Fever Pitch tournament.

Representative teams from around the country will compete over two days to be crowned the inaugural School Girl’s Sevens Champions. ARU National Women’s coaches will be on hand watching the action closely with an eye to identifying any future stars of the game.

View the new Women’s Rugby Sevens video at - http://play.viostream.com/?play=c0fd26ec-4433-4def-befd-22824b65c906

Earlier this year Rebecca Tavo joined Qantas Wallabies captain James Horwill as the two faces of Australian Rugby Union’s new recruitment campaign Rugby Wants You. The image of Rebecca Tavo that appeared on posters and online is attached.

Tavo has also been named as Rugby’s ambassador for the Prime Minister’s Olympic Challenge.

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