This was published 7 years ago
University of Tasmania set to be included in new universities sevens competition
By Georgina Robinson
Craft beer, fine wine and endangered marsupials, Tasmania can do. But rugby players?
Hobart-born second-rower Adam Coleman flies the flag for the Apple Isle in the Wallabies, but it appears the state could soon be churning out sevens players after the University of Tasmania was chosen as one of the entrants in the new women's sevens competition launching in August.
The university is understood to have partnered with the Tasmanian government to bid for a spot in the Australian Rugby Union's eight-team domestic competition.
A formal announcement about the make-up of the competition is expected on the eve of the Sydney Sevens next month, but Fairfax Media understands Australia's smallest state has secured a spot, along with institutions boasting well-established rugby clubs, including the University of Queensland, Bond University, two Sydney institutions and the University of New England in Armidale.
Hobart-born second-rower Adam Coleman (with headgear) is the flagbearer for Tasmania in the Wallabies.Credit: Getty Images
UNE is understood to be the only regional university that made the cut, with the New England Tablelands a region that boasts a longstanding love of rugby. Two other universities have also been included, potentially from Melbourne and Perth.
The news emerged as Australia came to grips with facing Fiji, Ireland and Brazil in the group stages of the Sydney Sevens, which starts on February 4 at Allianz Stadium. Olympic silver medallists New Zealand were drawn with France, Papua New Guinea and bronze medallists Canada, while England, Russia, Spain and the US make up the third group.
Australian back Alicia Quirk labelled Fiji the Pearls' biggest threat. The women's team made the knockout stages in Rio but have failed to replicate the wild success of the men, who became global sensations last year when they claimed a historic first gold medal for the island nation at the Rio Olympics.
Quirk said it was a matter of time – and the right coach – before the Fijian women spilled over into the big time along with the likes of Australia, New Zealand, England and Canada.
"Their offload game is really, really strong and that was something we've struggled against," she said. "We've been trying to nullify that offload and use our defence to adapt to that, but they're always so unpredictable, they have such great attacking flair and they would have worked hard on the Christmas break.
"I think they have the potential to [match the men's success], if they had as great a coach as the men had in Ben Ryan, they've got that natural ability to be able to go really far. It's their access to coaches over there and the funding of a full-time program that is a challenge. They're still camp-based."