Dubbo College Senior Campus PE teacher Megan Shanahan will travel to the women’s Rugby World Cup in England at the end of the month, as a member of the Australian women’s rugby Wallaroos squad.
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She will join former Narromine Gorilla-ette Rebecca Trethowan, who will be competing in her second World Cup for the Wallaroos.
A former member of the Dubbo Rhinos Sheila’s, Shanahan now plays for the Orange Emus in the Central West women’s rugby
competition and for the second year running was selected to represent NSW Country at the 2010 Australian National Championships in June.
It was here that a number of standout performances gained her further recognition and selection in the Australian squad.
“The team was announced on July 12 after the nationals carnival and I must admit I was a bit surprised,” she said.
“Although I thought I played okay at the nationals there was a pretty high standard around.
“I’m really looking forward to it but I am currently not in the starting team so obviously I’d like to produce some good performances off the bench and cement my spot in the team.
“I’m probably more nervous for Australia. We didn’t do too well in the last World Cup but we did win the world sevens last year and most of the girls in that side are in the 15s.”
The 24-year-old took up the game in 2004 while studying at Newcastle University, but she said it wasn’t
until she played at Nationals last year that she really
started to take the game seriously.
She now does strength training at least three times a week, along with three to four running sessions to keep her
in top shape for her rugby career.
“I was always very into cricket, I played for about 10 years giving it up when I was 21,” she said.
“I’ve also played squash since I was seven and continue to play when I can.
“Rugby has pretty much taken over, I now really enjoy my rugby and the physical component to it.”
Playing in the back row at no.8 Shanahan said she enjoys being able to play a versatile game.
“My position allows you to run a bit more with the ball,” she said.
“It’s also a position where you can be involved with both the forwards and the backs
and that’s what I like most about it.”
Shanahan will go into training camp with her fellow Wallaroos at the Australian Institute of Sport on Monday, before flying out to England on August 15.
