THEY slogged it out in play and training since February, and Warialda’s Tiarna Malloy and Rhiannon Byers have realised a dream.
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The two under 17 Central North rugby team players have been selected for the NSW state under 17 side.
They will hit the paddock for the National Champion-ships at Wagga Wagga over December 5 and 6.
Tiarna, 17, has played the game since year 7, and plays fly half in rugby 7s, growing into the sport as part of Warialda High School’s strong culture of girls’ rugby.
“I just always wanted to play rugby, because I’d played touch football and Austag and everything, and it was good to get the opportunity to play contact, being a girl,” she said.
She and Rhiannon were selected for the 2014 NSW Country side, but the step up to represent all-state was a horse of different colour.
“So you could say it was determination to make the side this year, and made us work harder,” Tiarna said.
“Feels really good.”
The two are joined regionally by Gunnedah’s Issy Hunt and Moree’s Ashleigh Walker.
Rhiannon is the junior on the team at age 16, and plays forward and back.
She summed up her job simply.
“Clearing out heaps of girls, I guess,” she said with a smile in her voice.
Warialda and Central West coach Dean Beattie felt very proud of his four girls headed to the state side, and said Rhiannon knows how to put her shoulder into the game.
“Even though Rhiannon is only 16, she’s possibly the most physical of the lot,” he said. Rhiannon said a best mate got her interest sparked for the game.
“She was a role model for me, and I started playing rugby and I’ve loved it,” she said.
She seemed floored by the chance to play for NSW.
“It’s unbelievable; I can’t believe that at my age I’m here playing for NSW,” she said.
Dean said the culture of girls’ rugby has built a solid foundation in Warialda.
“We’re a school of under 200 kids, and we have over 30 girls in our rugby program from year 7 through to year 12,” he said.
“Nobody ever gets told that they’re not good enough for one of our teams, but we expect them to train really, really hard, and the girls are very, very proud of what they’ve accomplished.”
Rhiannon and Tiarna hoped their performance at nationals might catch the interest of an Australian team selector.
“Just play in there, show what I’ve got and show what I can do,” Rhiannon said.