The Singapore Women’s XVs Team will take on Australia’s Northern Territory Women’s XVs, the NT Goannas, twice over the next four days. It will be the first time that the two sides have met and will surely make for an interesting clash.

This is the first time a Northern Territory Women’s Representative Team has toured overseas although their Head Coach, Claire Rowat, is no foreigner to Singapore having spent time here herself. This development tour to Singapore marks the beginning of NT Goannas preparation for their 2018 Women’s 15-a-side National Championships in Australia.

Singapore Captain, Esther Phua, is making no assumptions, “This is the first time we are playing the NT Goannas, so we are essentially up against an unknown opponent from an elite rugby nation. We also have many young players making their debuts for the Singapore Women’s XV. Nevertheless, we are expecting to give them a good fight, and it will definitely be good exposure and an experience for all the players.”

Muhammad Zaki, who heads the Singapore coaching team for this campaign is looking to give the next generation of player exposure to more competitive games, “For these 2 matches, we have selected a mixture of experienced and youth and/or new players. As the match is likely to be very physical, we will be looking to play at a high tempo. We are expecting our girls to put up a good performance and be resilient throughout the game.”

Opportunities for XV games are hard-sought by Singapore after the discontinuation of the Asia Rugby Women’s Division 1 XV Championships – the last international played by the Women’s XV was in April 2016 against Hong Kong.

National Women’s Team Head Coach, Wang Shao Ing, who is preparing the Singapore Women’s Sevens Team for the 2017 SEA Games is appreciative of the two match this series, “We are glad to have established this relationship with the NT Rugby Union as the current structure of the Asia Rugby Women’s XVs leaves us wanting in terms of international games. With a growing women’s rugby population and a five-team 15s league stretching over 4 months, there is still huge interest in the 15-aside game despite the popularity of the 7s format. So having the NT Goannas here is a great opportunity for the players and spectators alike, as it is not often that our Women’s XV get to play at home.”

SINGAPORE v NT GOANNAS – 2 Match Series

1st Match

Thursday, 11 May 2017, 7.30pm, CCAB, Evans Road

 

2nd Match

Sunday, 14 May 2017, 4.00pm, CCAB, Evans Road

 

 

Singapore Women’s XV for 1st Match

 Forwards:

Charis Lim Shu En (Bedok Kings), Koh Mei Giet (Bedok Kings), Jackie Lea Osborn (Bucks RFC), Teo Shu Hui (Bedok Kings), Chen Jiemin Anna (Bucks RFC), Nur Hidayah Binte Mohd Jemin (Bedok Kings), Lee Yi Tian, Vice-Captain (Bedok Kings), Woo Xue Ni Annabel Bernadette (Bedok Kings)

 Backs:

 Phua Lu En Esther, Captain (Bedok Kings), Zheng Yiting (Bedok Kings), Angelina Liu Huiyun (Bedok Kings), Tan Mun Ting (Bucks RFC), Daphne Alexandria Lai Fen-Ting (Bedok Kings), Tse Min Yan          (Bedok Kings), Goh Xin Yi (Bedok Kings)

 Substitutes:

 Chang Yuning Vanessa (Blacks RFC), Crystal Cheng Mei Qi (Bedok Kings), Constance Lambert (Bucks RFC), Anggit Fernanda (NTU), Nicole Tan Zhi Yu (Bedok Kings), Eng Yan Ran Vivian (Bedok Kings), Rachel Wang Yun (Bedok Kings),        Vethanayake D/O Ramachandran       (NTU)

Management Team:

 Muhammed Zaki (Head Coach), Ashraf Nasser (Assistant Coach), Bob Liu (Team Manager)