The Canberra Raiders have re-enforced their commitment to the growth of women’s rugby league in the local region, with the addition of a new under 17’s female pathway program.
The new program will give young female rugby league players in the region the opportunity to be selected into an elite level program, which will be a valuable pathway to a potential NRLW career.
Earlier this year, the Raiders introduced a series of regional skills clinics across the Riverina, South Coast and in Canberra, which provided some valuable insights into the depth and talent pool in the local communities.
Following on from these clinics, the club has determined the next step will be to introduce this new program for the girls in these regions, as a stepping stone into the already established under 19’s Tarsha Gale Cup program.
The program will start following the trials in November and include weekly training sessions, before culminating in a series of trial matches against Sydney clubs.
The Raiders will hold trials for the new under 17s squad on Friday November 10 at NSWRLHQ in Bruce (Eade St) and interested participants can sign up online now.
Applications close this Wednesday 8th November at 5pm.
Raiders NRLW Coach Darrin Borthwick said the introduction of this new program would help young female players develop their skills at an earlier age and best prepare and develop players for the next stage of their careers.
“There’s no doubt that the success of the Raiders inaugural NRLW season has given young female rugby league players in the region the desire and inspiration to follow their dreams and this program will be a valuable step in helping them to achieve this,” Borthwick said.
“Not only will this program give young female players an opportunity, but it will also be a valuable program for the Raiders to help identify and develop the next generation of players who we can work with closely to help them on their journey towards the NRLW.”
Raiders Pathways and Performance Manager Dean Souter said the program will be part of the Raiders already impressive junior pathways programs, which has a proud history in developing and nurturing local talent.
“It’s vitally important for our club to show young players from our region that opportunity to play rugby league at the highest level starts in your own backyard,” Souter said.
“We’ve had a proud history of developing players from a young age and seeing them play at NRL level and in our first year in the NRLW we saw Ahlivia Ingram prove that it can be done in the female pathway system also.”
“This new program will run alongside all of the clubs established pathway programs and we believe will be a valuable addition to the Raiders family.”
If further information is required, please email sbacker@raiders.com.au
