The NSWRL is pleased to announce a record number of female coaching appointments for its 2022 Country and City representative teams, with all of them recently graduating from a pilot Women In Sport Leadership program conducted at the Ignite HQ Centre of Excellence.
On a day which celebrates the achievements of women across the globe with International Women’s Day, the NSWRL has appointed six women to occupy key positions in the City and Country Women’s teams; and City and Country Under 19s Women’s teams.
All of these women participated in the inaugural Women In Sport Leadership program, conducted by the NSWRL in collaboration with University of New England (UNE) Partnerships, to build skills and confidence for women (sport coaches) to pursue leadership roles within their chosen sport and explore more aspirational career opportunities.
They include former NSW captain Ruan Sims (Country Women’s coach), Cheyanne Hatch (Country Women’s assistant coach), Kellie Stout (City Women’s assistant coach), Alicia-Kate Hawke (Country Women’s Under 19s coach), Melissa Spero (Country Women’s Under 19s assistant coach), and Kate Mullaly (City Women’s Under 19s coach).
The list of appointments also includes True Blue Terry Campese as the coach of the Country Men’s team. Campese played for the NSW Blues in 2009 and last year captained-coached the Monaro Colts to a premiership in the Men’s Country Championships.
“The Country v City matches are a highlight of the NSWRL representative calendar,” NSWRL Head of Football Robert Lowrie said.
“It is an honour for players who are selected to represent either Country or City, and the matches also act as an important pathway to achieve higher honours in the game.
“I’m thrilled to see so many female coaches appointed in 2022, as it will give them a chance to utilise the skills they learned from the Women In Sport Leadership program. It is also a sign of the future and reflects the increasing role they can play in Rugby League.
“It’s also great to see True Blue Terry Campese appointed to the Country Men’s team, as it continues a proud tradition of former NSW players giving back to the game.”
The Country v City matches will be played in May at a venue to be determined.
NSWRL 2022 Coaching Appointments
Country Men’s
Coach: Terry Campese
Manager: Dean Bosnich
City Men’s
Coach: Brett Cook
Manager: Chris Hutchinson
Country Women’s
Coach: Ruan Sims
Assistant coach: Cheyanne Hatch
Manager: Tanya Booth
City Women’s
Coach: Darren Borthwick
Assistant coach: Kellie Stout
Manager: Stacey Drury
Country Women’s Under 19s
Coach: Alicia-Kate Hawke
Assistant coach: Melissa Spero
Manager: Michelle Graham
City Women’s Under 19s:
Coach: Kate Mullaly
Assistant coach: Ryan Walker
Manager: Liz Callaghan
Country Men’s Under 18s
Coach: Kurt Hancock
Manager: Nathan Hodson
City Men’s Under 18s
Coach: Stephen O’Dea
Manager: Karl Karroum
Country Men’s Under 16s
Coach: Aaron Hertsch
Manager: Evan Jones
City Men’s Under 16s
Coach: Kyle Churchill
Manager: Scott Borg
