COUNTRY Rugby League has announced their representative side, featuring Gerringong's Ruan Sims, for the Women's National Championships to be played at Burleigh on the Gold Coast from Thursday, May 30 to Sunday, June 2.
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After the success of this year's inaugural CRL Women's Country Championships, 11 players from that tournament have been selected for the NSW Country team.
Six teams will compete at the championships with the opportunity for players to be recognised for State of Origin and NRLW.
Eight Country representatives from last year's NSW Country champion squad went on to play Origin and 14 were selected to compete in the inaugural NRLW season.
NSW and Queensland will field a host of the game's top stars in their City and Country sides while the Australian Defence Force and Combined Affiliated States will also feature in the four-day tournament.
The NSW Country side features Australian Jillaroos Isabelle Kelly, Kezie Apps, Bec Young, Ruan Sims, Hannah Southwell, Keeley Davis and Vanessa Foliaki along with some of the brightest emerging talent from Regional NSW.
Country Rugby League CEO Terry Quinn believes the Women's National Championship provides a fantastic opportunity for players from regional NSW to test themselves against some of the best female talent in Australia.
"We're extremely proud to be a part of the inaugural Women's National Championship and we're eager to see an exciting mix of regional, Origin and Jillaroos representatives from Country NSW compete together on a national stage," Quinn said.
"The women's game continues to grow in all areas of Country Rugby League and having 11 players selected from the CRL Women's Country Championships is testament to the quality of players coming from regional NSW," Quinn said.
"There have been some great announcements made for the women's game in recent times and we fully support the continual development of pathways for female players.
"I want to wish our team the best of luck in the national championships defending their title and wish them all the best in achieving NRLW, New South Wales and the Jillaroos honours in the future."
Joining Sims in the Matt Parish coached side is fellow South Coast product Kezie Apps, as well as Keeley Davis, Kirra Dibb, Vanessa Foliaki, Emma Hickey, Kylie Hilder, Rikeya Horne, Melanie Howard, Ellie Johnston, Takilele Katoa, Isabelle Kelly, Bobbi Law, Shellie Long, Kaitlyn Phillips, Simone Smith, Hannah Southwell, Tess Staines, Gabrielle Suckling, Shakiah Tungai, Holli Wheeler and Bec Young.