GERRINGONG'S Ruan Sims and her NSW Country side will be chasing back-to-back titles at the 2019 Women's National Championships in Burleigh from May 30, with future representative honours on the line across the four-day tournament.
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Six teams will compete at the championships with NSW fielding Country and City sides, while Queensland have named a Country side and South East Queensland team.
An Affiliated States side and Australian Defence Force team will also return with a host of up-and-coming talent representing areas from across the country.
The tournament acts as a major selection process for upcoming Origin selection, while representatives from NRLW clubs are also expected to scout for talent with contracts possibly offered for the competition in September.
NSW Country beat NSW City in last year's championship final 16-12 to be crowned 2018 champions.
The inaugural championships saw the likes of Julia Robinson, Hannah Southwell and Holli Wheeler evolve into international players with the Australian Jillaroos by season's end.
"It was a fun week last year to be able to represent Country and we're really determined to make in two in a row," NSW Country backrower Kezie Apps, from Bega, told NRL.com.
"You play with girls you wouldn't usually play with or against.
"To see some of the girls develop and represent their country later in the year shows that this tournament is a real chance to shine and take that next opportunity."
NSW Country boasts several big names including Apps and Sims but the team will be without Isabelle Kelly with the star centre sidelined with a knee injury.
Country representatives Sam Bremner and Nakia Davis Welsh and City representative Taleena Simon have all announced their pregnancies in recent months and are also not available.
Queensland's SEQ side (formerly City) is led by Broncos halfback Ali Brigginshaw and features the likes of Roosters trio Karina Brown, Zahara Temara and Tazmin Gray.
Kiwi Ferns forward Maitua Feterika and former New Zealand international Rona Peters are also included but cannot be considered for Maroons selection under the game's new eligibility rule.
The ADF side will be guided by Jillaroos players Meg Ward and Talesha Quinn for a consecutive season but the squad will be disappointed by the withdrawal of Robinson, who is sidelined for the remainder of the year following leg and ankle surgery.
Sims' NSW Country side will open their tournament with a match on May 30 against ADF, before having a bye the following day.
Their final pool game will be against Queensland Country on June 1, before finals day on the Sunday.
NSW Country squad: Kezie Apps, Keeley Davis, Kirra Dibb, Vanessa Foliaki, Emma Hickey, Kylie Hilder, Rikeya Horne, Melanie Howard, Ellie Johnston, Takilele Katoa, Bobbi Law, Shellie Long, Kaitlyn Phillips, Ruan Sims, Greta Smith, Simone Smith, Hannah Southwell, Tess Staines, Gabrielle Suckling, Shakiah Tungai, Holli Wheeler and Bec Young.
