Wallaroos Squad Named for Tour of New Zealand

The Australian Rugby Union has named a 22-woman squad to tour New Zealand in October at the conclusion of the National Women’s Championships today at Macquarie University in Sydney.

Eighteen members of the 2006 Women’s Rugby World Cup squad form the nucleus of the team which will play three games, including two Tests, against the current World Champion “Black Ferns”.  The only new faces in the squad are NSW Country’s Louise Morrison and Kylie Pennell, Victorian fullback Tegan French and Queensland winger Cassandra Nunn.

NSW Country has the most representatives with seven players named in the squad, while five players from Championship winners, Sydney 1^st XV have also been selected.  Six players from Queensland will join two each from Victoria and the Brumbies in rounding out the 22-woman squad. 

Meanwhile, Sydney 1^st XV has claimed their first National Women’s Championship since 2005 with a 17-0 victory over Queensland in wet conditions at University Oval.  The conditions proved difficult for both teams, with neither side able to open the scoring before half-time.  However, Sydney 1^st XV winger Losa Fangupo broke the deadlock with a try after 39 minutes for a 5-0 lead, before a try to Wallaroo and Sydney 1^st XV halfback Cheryl Soon from a driving maul in the 59^th minute. Rachelle Pirie piloted the conversion through the posts for a 12-0 lead.  Replacement back Terry Andrews scored out wide in the final minute to secure a well-deserved 17-0 victory.

Sydney finish the tournament as undefeated champions without a single point scored against them in all three matches.  Earlier in the day, Australian and NSW Country fullback Tobie McGann scored five of her side’s ten tries in a 64-7 demolition of Victoria in the 3^rd Place Playoff.  Other tries to Amy Smith, Beth Kermode, Alana Thomas,Rebecca Trethowan and Kylie Pennell completed the rout for NSW Country, while fullback Tegan French scored a consolation try for the Victorians.  In the morning’s other matches Australian Services edged out National Indigenous 24-10 and Brumbies defeated Sydney 2^nd XV 29-5.

Below is the full Wallaroo squad, shadow squad and results from the final day of the National Women’s Championships at MacquarieUniversity in Sydney. 

Wallaroos Squad to tour New Zealand in October

* Member of the 2006 Women’s Rugby World Cup Squad

Shadow Squad

* Member of the 2006 Women’s Rugby World Cup Squad

National Women’s Championship - Day Three Results

Final

Sydney 1^st XV 17 (Losa Fangupo, Cheryl Soon, Terry Andrews tries; Rachelle Pirie con) defeated Queensland 0

Half-time: 0-0

3^rd Place Playoff

NSW Country 64 (Tobie McGann 5, Beth Kermode, Amy Smith, Kylie Pennell, Rebecca Trethowan, Alana Thomas tries; Alana Thomas 7 cons) defeated Victoria 7 (Tegan French try; Joanne Linklater con)

Half-time: NSW Country 33-7 

5^th Place Playoff

Brumbies 29 (Mollie Ulese 2, Mel Akers, Fiona Williams, tries; Megan Valler 3 cons, pen) defeated Sydney 2nd XV 5 (Amy Davis, try)

Half-time: 5-5

7^th Place Playoff

Australian Services 24 (Leonie Midgley 2, Ashleigh Payne, Cheryl Moir,  tries; Ashleigh Payne 2 cons) defeated National Indigenous 10 (Sophie Cubillo, Carmen Anderson tries)

Half-time: National Indigenous 10-7 

Final Standings

1. Sydney 1^st XV
2. Queensland
3. NSW Country
4. Victoria
5. Brumbies
6. Sydney 2^nd XV
7. Australian Services
8. National Indigenous