Women leaguies ready for nines

Junior rugby league will take centre stage in Wanganui this weekend and for one group of young women it is a chance to show their wares.

The Whanganui Boxon club has put together an 11-player squad for a nine-a-side match against a Taranaki team on Sunday.

It will be the girls' secondary schools match of what was initially intended to be the Lightning League tournament involving about four teams, but, instead, it will be the two sides in action at Cooks Gardens.

They will play alongside the five boys' teams that comprise the Isaac Luke Cup tournament, being played on Saturday and Sunday.

This team of Boxon women comprises five players from Ruapehu, with the rest from Wanganui's Girls College, City College and High School.

They range in age from 14-18, and contain a number of girls who will be playing competitive league for the first time - having come from a background of sevens union, netball and basketball.

The team started their preparations six weeks ago.

For the Isaac Luke tournament, Central Zone Rugby League general manager Lisa Reweti said they were going ahead with five school teams, after the Hawkes Bay college side pulled out.

Foxton's Manawatu College, Palmerston North's Tu Toa College, and New Plymouth Boys' High School are all sending teams, joining Wanganui's City College and Cullinane College.

Former Kiwis coach Howie Tamati, recently named the new president of the NZRL, will be coaching the NPBHS side.

Saturday will be the knockout stage of the tournament, with the playoffs on Sunday.