In a huge step forward for Goulburn women’s rugby union, Dirty Reds forward Paige Penning was recently named in the women’s Brumbies training squad for the Super W season.
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Having only played rugby for three seasons, Penning said she was “dumbfounded” when she received the call.
“I had no words, I was so surprised … we literally just signed up to do it for a bit of a learning experience.”
Penning has been selected in the squad as a loosehead prop, a position with which she is fairly familiar.
However, part of the reason for Penning’s surprise is the fact that she is still relatively inexperienced in rugby union.
She hopes the experience with the Brumbies will help to develop her understanding of the game.
“Since I’ve started [playing rugby union] I just quiz Dave [Anable] every single time, Kelly [Anable] every single time, [and] all the other girls who have been playing,” Penning said.
“I just don’t think I know how to play rugby. I’m always asking questions so I think I’m just going to keep doing that with the Brumbies and just continually be asking questions and trying to improve.”
Although she is new to the sport, playing rugby is something that Penning felt destined to do.
She credited her move to the sport to the growth of female competitions in the region.
Following from her personal success, Penning hopes the sport can continue to grow in popularity and strengthen the local sides.
“I really hope it’ll be a bit of an opportunity for us to grow the women’s team for the [Dirty] Reds too,” she said.
“I’ve already had some conversations with some girls who were at the Brumbies training who have said they were looking for a new club.”
The team will begin training this week, and Penning said she was “so motivated” to make the most of her opportunity and to use it to continue developing the sport in Goulburn.
“At the end of Sunday, it just cemented in my mind that we have to have a 15s team, because it was so fun and I believe Goulburn would have been as competitive as some of the teams that were half [made up of] Brumbies players.”
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