The build-up to the 2020 Country Championship has begun with a 35-person strong Western women's training squad announced.
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The squad has been named following a hugely successful second Western Women's Rugby League (WWRL) season.
That campaign came to an end last weekend where the Vipers beat a previously undefeated Wiradjuri Goannas in the decider.
Despite that loss, a number of Goannas have been awarded places in the Western squad.
Bec Smyth missed the WWRL final through injury but her try-scoring exploits leading up to that has seen her selected while Goannas captain Cassie Toomey is also in.
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Tireless Forbes Magpies player Kaitlyn Andrews, speedster India Draper, Kayla Hasson, sisters Ash and Cass Ward, and Dubbo teen sensation Taneka Todhunter also made the grade.
The extended squad will hold a number of training sessions in the coming months before a final squad is selected to contest the Country Championship.
A Western women's side contested the championship for the first time in the 2019 season and failed to make the finals after winning one of two games in the pool stage.
The Rams women suffered a 30-6 loss to Monaro first-up before downing the Greater Southern Region Wests Tigers 26-0.
The bulk of that squad is back again in the build-up to 2020, with the off-season campaign to start with a two-day camp at Bathurst on December 7 and 8.
A Western youth development squad will also be formed following next year's country championship and that will included members of the extended squad as well as invited players.
- WESTERN TRAINING SQUAD: Kaitlyn Andrews, Sarah Archer, Channy Burgess, Jess Burling, Demi Chapman, India Draper, Alicia Earsman, Rebecca Ford, Zarlia Griffith, Kayla Hasson, Billie-Jane Hoole, Molly Hoswell, Caitlin James, Nickolle Kirby, Marsela Koko, Hayley Lepaio, Jacky Lyden, Harriett Messner, Kaitlyn Phillips, Lailee Phillips, Heidi Regan, Paige Selten, Hayley Sharpless, Bec Smyth, Kiara Sullivan, Sally Taylor, Taneka Todhunter, Cassandra Toomey, Tabua Tuinakauvadra, Ash Ward, Cassandra Ward, Georgia Ward, Ebony Watson, Chloe White, Faith White.