Moree's Kiara Smith, Shai-Lee Smith and Jarom Haines have been touted as potential future representative stars after being selected in the First Nations rugby sevens squad.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Following a series of identification camps through the #dreamBigTime tour throughout regional Australia, a total of 133 players were selected - 46 females and 87 males - to take part in a three-day national talent camp next week.
Following the camp, two First Nations Sevens squads of 30 will be selected to compete in a number of tournaments across the country.
Both players have a background in league tag, with Kiara still playing for the Moree Boomerangs and Shai-Lee representing the Boars, but took on rugby sevens for the first time with the newly formed Moree Bulls women's in 2019.
"I think it's great," Bulls women's coach Paul King said.
"They've both improved heaps. It's been a big learning curve coming from a league tag background to rugby which is full contact."
King said adjusting to the contact in rugby has been the major learning curve, but also "just learning all the skills associated with rugby."
He thinks their speed as well as their ball skills should prove major assets for both players moving forward.
"They've both been really good on that front," he said.
King said it's a great accomplishment for both girls and the club as a whole with 2019 the first year a women's side has been entered in the competition.
Both Bri Harbourne and Casey Onus were also selected in the Central North women's side that competed in the country women's championships.
"To have five players take out representative duties has been really great. It just shows the level of skills they've got," King said.
"I think it's an extremely great effort for people in their first year of rugby and it just shows there are pathways for kids out in the bush.
"There's opportunities for girls to play rugby and the Moree Rugby Club fully support it."
In addition to Kiara and Shai-Lee, Jarom Haines was selected in the men's squad.
Originally from Moree, Haines is primarily a rugby league player who moved to Newcastle in 2016 and had the opportunity to represent the NSW Pioneers in their representative match against Queensland Rangers in June.
