The East Coast will boast a new women’s rugby schedule starting next month, with the Canberra Women’s Presidents XVs joining the mix.
Rugby Australia, NSW, ACT and Queensland Rugby made the announcement today, releasing the Women’s XVs Rugby domestic schedule.
The Chikarovski Cup will see the ACT side go head to head against Sydney Gold, Sydney Blue and NSW Country Women’s, with all players hoping for a spot in the Wallaroos training camp to be held in Canberra.
Rugby Australia general manager of Women’s Rugby, Jilly Collins, said the competition would be a fitting replacement for this year’s cancelled Test matches.
“Whilst we were disappointed the seven planned Test matches for the Buildcorp Wallaroos couldn’t go ahead this year due to COVID-19, it’s fantastic to receive the green light for this action-packed domestic competition,” she said.
“With less than a year to go until the Rugby World Cup 2021, it’s important that our top players have opportunities to compete in quality competitions.”
Queensland’s top two sides will play each other on 7 November, while the ACT and NSW teams will face off between 7 and 15 November.
Players will be looking to make a mark in the domestic competition, with hopes to make their way to the 10 Test matches scheduled during 2021.
Included in those Test matches is the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand next September.
Buildcorp principal and president of Australian Women’s Rugby, Josephine Sukkar AM, said she was pleased to see domestic rugby being played in the lead-up to the World Cup.
“This domestic competition will be both a boost to our World Cup preparations, and an exciting opportunity to watch international quality players at a local, family-friendly time and location,” she said.
“The 2021 Buildcorp Wallaroos national squad is shaping up to be one of the best thanks to growing and continued investment in the women’s game which create pathway opportunities like this competition.”
