Five community Rugby League Clubs have come together in Group 3 to put on the first girls-only tackle competition for under 10s in the east coast region of NSW.
Wingham, Forster Tuncurry, Port City Breakers, Wauchope and Taree Red Rovers kicked off the inaugural competition at the weekend, adding to the growing rate of females participating in the area which has seen a 13 per cent increase since 2019.
Group 3 President Warren Blissett credits local Mum, Bianca Adams in pulling it all together after creating an Under 9s girls-only tackle competition in 2020. Putting every effort into female participation the group also hosted an all-girls gala day in late April.
“A whole girls gala day was a real buzz. They’re happy and they are smiling. It was a great opportunity for the girls to see what it is all about,” said Blissett
“The 2021 season has the participation of 460 girls. This season the girls will play the full 12-round competition with finals which will develop and engender them to play week in and week out. We will build it from the ground up, with an Under 12s competition to start next year.”
Female Rugby League competitions continue to rise across the state with girls participation up 17.5 per cent. Some notable growth areas include 45 per cent in Sydney Metro, 12.6 per cent for Western Rams, 24 per cent in Greater Southern and 32.8 per cent in Newcastle.
