NHRU Congratulates Local Super W Players

NHRU CONGRATULATES LOCAL SUPER W PLAYERS

Newcastle and Hunter Rugby Union (NHRU) has congratulated two local women rugby players who were today announced in the NSW Women’s Super W team to play ACT Brumbies on Saturday (23 Feb).

NHRU President, Bill Clifton, said it was great news for the two players and also for the local women’s rugby competition.

NSW Women’s Rugby announced that 18-year-old Maya Stewart would make her debut on the wing and that her clubmate, 26-year-old Katrina Barker, would play beside her in the centres.

The two players are from The Waratahs club in Newcastle and lined up against ACT Women Brumbies at GIO Stadium in Canberra at 5pm last Saturday.

Clifton said Maya and Katrina played exceptionally well in a NSW Women’s rugby trial match earlier this month after being elected in the state squad late last year.

“Their selection shows the strength of the NHRU Women’s competition and that local players can make it to the top,” said Clifton.

“Maya and Katrina have trained extremely well since late last year and it is no surprise that the NSW selectors have named them in the run-on team.”

NSW are defending Super W champions and Maya is one of 10 debutants in the side for the opening Buildcorp Super W match. It will be Katrina’s third appearance for NSW.

The NSW v ACT Brumbies Super W match was part of a double header at GIO Stadium with the Brumbies men’s team taking on the Chiefs (New Zealand) at 7.45pm.

Congratulations to the NSW ladies who beat ACT Brumbies 26-0 in the opening round.

Clifton said the selection of Maya and Katrina follows the inclusion last weekend of Hunter product, Harry Johnson-Holmes, as the first-choice prop in the NSW men’s team that narrowly lost to the Hurricanes (New Zealand) 20-19.

Johnson-Holmes, formerly from the Wanderers cub before moving to Sydney, played 17 times off the bench last season for the NSW Waratahs before being named in the First XV last week.

He is also in the starting side for NSW’s match against Japan Sunwolves in Tokyo on Saturday after a strong front-rower’s display last week.

NOTE: NHRU’s Women’s Summer 7s competition kicks-off Friday, 22 Feb. Six teams – Easts, Hamilton, Maitland, Merewether Carlton, Nelson Bay and The Waratahs – will play from 6pm at Waratah No.5 ground in the opening round of the competition.

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Media inquiries should be directed to:

Bill Clifton on 0417 493 100