THE excitement was there for all to see as 30 potential Mid North Coast Tomahawks players had their first training run for 2019.
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Under-15 and under-17 girls and open women’s rugby players converged on Stuart Park as preparations began for the country championships later in the year.
NSW Waratahs development officer Lisa Vogel said the main highlight of the day for the players came from creating their own line-outs and packing their own scrums.
“You could actually feel it out on the field; there was a bit of a buzz when we made our first line out,” she said.
“There was a bit of a buzz when we made our first eight-man scrum and then when we had our team run and separated into backs and forwards you could see it on everyone’s faces that it was different and exciting.”
But with the Tomahawks set to field a side in the country championships this year, they felt the need to start preparing early.
“The coaches are aware a lot of the girls have only had experience of seven-a-side and most of the women have had experience for seven-a-side rugby,” Vogel said.
“Girls that have played in the Tomahawks before have had experience of 15-a-side but they (coaches) want to start (training) early enough to spot that talent, but then give them enough weeks before country champs to learn the structure of 15s.
“As much as someone might have talent or passion of playing 15s, if they don’t understand the structure of the game, it’s no use.”
Players came from Coffs Harbour, Kempsey, Forster-Tuncurry, Taree and Port Macquarie.
“We did some drills and had great team runs; players came from all across the Mid North Coast,” Vogel said.
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