Paddy Bowen to coach 2020 NSW Country Women's squad in the Chikarovski Cup on November 8

The former Wauchope Thunder coach and clubman coached the NSW Country Corellas last year and oversaw selection trials held for the new NSW Country Women's squad in October.

The team is scheduled for their first cup match against Sydney Blue at Southern Districts Rugby Club from 2pm on Sunday, November 8.

"We play our first game on that Sunday, then the second round is in Bathurst the next weekend where we play Canberra and another Sydney Gold team," he said.

"It's just about going out hard and fast, sticking to your shape and sticking to the game plan. I think we've got the firepower to go all the way in the competition.

"This year Rugby Australia have given us a few Wallaroos and Waratahs players. They all grew up in the country so it's good to have them back in country colours.

"Selections have definitely changed since last year just with the increase in talent. We have had 60 girls trial from around all the different zones and the skill level improves every year.

"You've got to match that skill level and as it improves you take the training up a notch. The progress this year just shows that the women's games across all the zones are really starting to pay dividends, feeding back into country and back into the national team."

Bowen said some of the best experiences this year were a challenging role as an under 18s coach and working with Cockatoos coach Shaun McCreedy.

"I've really enjoyed my coaching this year, it's been going from strength to strength and I've got to work with Cockatoos coach Shaun McCreedy. It's been great to learn off him and see what they do, get some insight into their play," he said.

"I moved over to Tamworth and I did a bit of coaching of the Tamworth under 18s boys. That's an age group I haven't done before so that was a good challenge.

"The under 18s boys are different and they bring different challenges from when I was coaching senior grade men, senior grade women and junior women in Wauchope. It's nice to be challenged a little bit and you can see the little idiosyncrasies that are different between age groups and genders.

"Looking ahead I'm just finishing up my level three coaching and just seeing where COVID takes us I guess. Just enjoying the ride in the coaching pathway, keep going up that ladder and see where it takes me."

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