NSW Junior Rugby Union
On Sunday the inaugural U15 Girls Sydney vs NSW Country fixture will make its debut at the NSW Positive Rugby Foundation City vs Country Carnival at Showground No. 2, Newcastle.
We are proud to announce that the teams will be playing for the“Mahalia Murphy Shield”, the perennial trophy to mark the occasion.
Mahalia is not only a part of our reigning Super W Premiers –the Waratah Women’s team, but also is a Wallaroo as well as being primarily a fully contracted member of the Au7’s highly successful women’s team.
The naming of this trophy is an honour for Mahalia, but it also shows the great amount of respect and thanks that the juniors(particularly the girls) have for her. Mahalia has been a champion of the girls game this year and it is only fitting that such a trophy be named after her.
I took the chance to briefly catch up with Mahalia this afternoon as she was preparing to fly out to Perth tomorrow morning to enter camp with the Wallaroos ahead of next week’s clash with New Zealand.
I mentioned that I had seen her (Mahalia) at many of our junior events this year, so I asked “when you are not training with the Waratahs, Au7s or Wallaroos – what have you been up to with the juniors?”
“I have done quite a bit this year – I’ve been to help outwith training sessions and appearances at many clubs in Sydney and Maitland – I managed to get to every day of the Girls NSWJRU State Champs supporting the girls and watching some wonderful rugby. And just last week I had the honour of presenting the Sydney teams with their jerseys. So it has been a big year.”
Mahalia went on to say how disappointed she was that she couldn’t be at Newcastle on Sunday to present the trophy in person as the Wallaroos fly into Perth tomorrow to head into camp – but she would be sending the girls messages of encouragement to the girls prior. I suspect Mahalia will also miss the beautiful 8 week old Labrador puppy that she had with her.
With the U17 Girls Sydney vs Country trophy named after the Wallaroos Captain and “country girl” Grace Hamilton, and I asked if there was any rivalry to steal each other’s Shields on Sunday.
“I only found out about U17s and Grace the other day, so we haven’t touched on that yet” – but I suspect they will both have one eye on the results on Sunday for bragging rights.
Thanks Mahalia for being a fantastic ambassador and we are thrilled to have the annual “Mahalia Murphy Shield” up for grabs.
Good luck to all the girls playing on Sunday – hopefully some of you will follow Mahalia and Grace to higher honours down the track
The games will all be live streamed on Sunday - The matches will be live streamed on:
Ben Gregory
President NSWJRU
