At the University of Tasmania there’s a new rite of passage for students during their journey through higher education that’s soon to be kicking national goals. And it’s exclusively for females.
The institution is spearheading a women’s Rugby Union competition that will significantly develop sporting opportunities for athletes in Tasmania and across Bass Strait.
It’s called the Aon Uni 7s Series, a national competition inspired by Australia’s gold medal success at Rio in women’s Rugby Sevens that dramatically increased the number of females signing up for the sport.
The University of Tasmania is one of eight higher education institutions in Australia to be selected for the inaugural series after presenting a unique bid which also secured the opportunity to host the first tournament at University of Tasmania Stadium.
Dubbed The Lions, in line with the University’s crest, the home side will comprise of students, local talent, and elite international athletes together with allocated players by the Australian Rugby Union, including the fastest woman in rugby, Ellia Green.
The competition’s ultimate purpose is to forge pathways for players into the National Sevens Competition, while encouraging them to also pursue their educational aspirations.
“The series is another significant step forward for women’s sport, both within our University and our country more broadly,” said Professor Mike Calford, University of Tasmania Provost.
We are proud to be part of a national movement creating and progressing pathways for elite female athletes and we are currently designing scholarships to attract new students to our institution who can jointly study with us while pursuing their passion for sport.
The home side will be coached by former Wallaby Luke Burgess, now Development Manager of the Tasmanian Rugby Union.
He says the sport and universities have always had a strong link.
“The Aon Uni 7s Series builds on how widespread rugby already is across institutions, particularly at the University of Tasmania,” Mr Burgess explains.
“It is a huge development that’s bringing significant sporting opportunities to this State by offering local women the chance to play alongside some of the world’s best athletes.
The University of Tasmania has shown such great commitment to the program. Watching the opportunities for these young women, it’s inspirational.
“Rio Olympian Ellia Green will champion our side, playing an intricate part in the team’s development by imparting her knowledge and providing mentorship to the players as we evolve the University of Tasmania Lions into a formidable powerhouse,” Mr Burgess said.
That’s a goal echoed by Green, who scored Australia’s third try in the Rio final against New Zealand, but her segue into the sport wasn’t conventional.
“I came into rugby sevens really by coincidence – I was dropping my cousin off at a trial. I was really just in the right place at the right time.
“I pretty much learnt all the rules of the game in a short period of time.
I hope I can use my story to encourage other girls to do the same thing and would say to them – don’t be afraid to give it a go as you never know what you can achieve.
And she’s still riding that Rio Olympics high.
“We couldn’t believe how much this impacted young women back home. One of my proudest moments was seeing how many girls it inspired to play rugby sevens, and I think that’s more valuable to me than a gold medal.
I’m very excited to be bringing a sevens culture to Tasmania and hope I can help the girls with my experience and knowledge, provide them with the skills I’ve been taught, and be a positive role model.
“I also want to share that it’s important they consider life after rugby and combine their sport with education. That’s why I completed a nursing certificate at university. After I hang up my boots, I hope to work for the United Nations.”
The side will also be bolstered by Shanice
Parker from the national women’s sevens team and University of Tasmania student
James Erwin will perform the role of assistant coach.
During the first two-day women’s sevens
tournament (25 August, 2pm – 7pm and 26 August, 1pm – 5pm), all eight
university sides will face off at University of Tasmania Stadium in Launceston,
in line with the Women’s Sevens World Series fixture format.
In the lead-up, the Tasmanian Rugby Union will be staging clinics for schoolchildren to encourage their participation in the sport, and University of Tasmania students have also been visiting schools as rugby ambassadors. The junior initiative will then culminate with a round-robin series (Friday, 25 August) and an emerging players match as part of the historic women’s sevens event.
Interested in studying at the University of Tasmania? Get in touch today to apply.