Rugby Union: Central North women name squad for upcoming Country Championships

Tamworth will again host the championships on June 12 and 13.

Maslen and fellow coaches Lincoln Stewart and Matt Hannay were really happy with the pool of talent they had to select from and the squad they have come up with, Maslen noting that every club that is fielding a women's side in the Central North competition is represented.

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"There's a lot of ladies returning from last year," he said.

"Plus a lot of juniors from last year's Central North under-18s that have come up.

"And a few experienced players that watched last year's program and have come back for a run in representative football.

"They'll add a lot of experience to what is a young squad."

The two names that instantly jump out when you talk experience are former Wallaroo Kate Brown and Brumby Peta Cox, who are co-coaching the Narrabri women's side this season with Will Guest.

They will be a huge inclusion, and not just for what they will bring to the side in a footy sense.

"For the young girls to be playing with Kate and Peta that will be a great experience for them," Maslen remarked.

"Even on Sunday (they had a training session at Narrabri) you could see them giving advise to the younger players."

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Pirates' Rosie Ferguson has again been handed the captaincy honours after leading what ended up being a combined Central North/New England side last year.

Among the new faces is running champ Lacie Quigley, who is playing with Quirindi.

"She's brand new to rugby this year," Maslen said.

"[But] She's been very impressive."

Caitlyn Etheridge, who made the NSW Country under-18s last year and will be "pretty dynamic in the centres", Maslen's daughter Erika and Shona McFarland, are meanwhile stepping up from the juniors.

Unfortunately due to the junior Country Championships being pushed back to the same weekend this year they won't be able to call on some of the under-18s talent they probably would have liked to.

But all of the sides will be in the same boat.

A bit rushed last year, as far as preparation, Maslen said they should be better this year for having more time to put a team together and "get a more solid foundation in place".

Sunday's training session was their third so far. They were also involved in the new Northern NSW Premier Women's XV's competition.

They have another training/trial game lined up against New England on May 15 in Tamworth and will have another training session two weeks after that.

CENTRAL NORTH WOMENS XV'S SQUAD: Emily Kelso, Natalie Phillpott, Amie Middlemiss (Barraba/Gwydir), Jessica Baker, Haylee Murrell, Sarah Stewart, Lana Bottrell, Kate O'Donnell, Hannah Crisp, Peta Lawrence, Simone Lickorish (Gunnedah), Lacie Quigley, Jessica Slade (Quirindi), Erika Maslen, Jill Mooney, Nicola Robinson, Rosie Ferguson (Pirates), Lucy Prudden, Caitlyn Etheridge, Bridget Hunt (Scone), Shona McFarland, Peta Cox, Kate Brown, Carly Baxter, Louisa Anderson (Narrabri). Coaches - Jeremy Maslen, Lincoln Stewart, Matt Hannay; manager - Lou Gilfeather-Wilson

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