After a successful performance at Nationals last week, three Central West players have been selected for the Australian Women’s Rugby Union squad to take on the Kiwis in October.
Rebecca Trethowan, Kylie Pennell and Alana Thomas were all celebrating their selections last week, but said their job wasn’t done yet, with the squad to be cut again in the lead up to the test that will be held in Canberra.
This is the third year Trethowan will throw on the green and gold jersey and the second for Pennell, and both ladies say they are honoured to be representing their country.
Trethowan moved to Dubbo this year for work commitments, and says she is loving life out west.
The NSW Country flanker said the job of playing for her country is huge and requires a lot of time and commitment, but says she is ready to take on the challenge for the third year running.
The 23-year-old is currently teaching at Narromine High through the week and travelling back to Newcastle on the weekends to play for her club, Newcastle Uni.
The gruelling training schedule for Trethowan leaves her little time for rest, but it’s her hunger to succeed that keeps her motivated.
She grew up in Dunedoo with her brothers and always wanted to play a contact sport.
But it wasn’t until she burst onto the Newcastle Uni scene that doors began to open for Rebecca Trethowan, who is now set to represent the Australian Wallaroos for the third year in a row, this October.
Trethowan has recently returned home from the National Women’s Rugby Union Championships which were held at Queensland’s Gold Coast last week, where she played her way into the Australian squad for the third year running.
The NSW Country flanker will join Coonamble’s Kylie Pennell and Orange’s Alana Thomas in the squad and says she couldn’t be happier to be representing along side players from the central west.
“Kylie would have to be the most skilled athlete I have ever played with,” Threthowan said.
“Her mobility and vision for the game is unreal.”
Threthowan is currently calling Dubbo home after taking up a teaching position at Narromine High.
While she is still travelling back to Newcastle to play for her local club on the weekends, she says she hasn’t ruled out playing for one of the Dubbo clubs in the future.
Trethowan is currently preparing herself for the test against New Zealand in October, but says she will have to work hard to get a place in the team.
“The squad will be cut down to 22 before the test and after seeing the abundance of talent at Nationals I am going to have to work hard to maintain a spot in the team.”
Of the three Central West players selected, Trethowan is the only one to have played in a World Cup, but she says her experience playing for the Wallaroo’s wont mean much unless she keeps her fitness up.
“The Kiwis are big and strong.
“Their skill and game structure makes them hard to beat.”
Currently the 23-year-old trains with ex-NRL legend Robbie O’Davis and attends weekly sessions with the squad.
She says living out in Dubbo has been great and she plans to remain out here for the next two years.
“I love the lifestyle out here and I am really enjoying my job and the kids I work with,” she said.
“I’m coaching the Narromine High girls rugby team at the moment and they have their Western Region Championships next term.
“They would have to be one of the most talented sides I have ever coached.”
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