The Tuks women’s 7’s rugby team has a new trump card
The Tuks women's 7’s rugby team found a new trump card shortly before their tour to Europe where they will participate in three tournaments.
Meghan Phillips, who earlier this year helped Tuks retain the Varsity Athletics-title through her speedy exploits, has set herself now the challenge to try and help the Delta Drone TuksWomensRugby7’s retain the Stanislas 7’s title in France.
It is a big challenge especially considering that Phillips has not yet played one sevens rugby game. Up to now she only attended eight-team practise sessions.
Still the women’s sevens coach at Tuks, Riaan van der Merwe, can’t help but be excited about his latest convert’s abilities.
“Meghan has got speed and big match temperament. And that is two of the most important qualities to be successful in any sport. I think she is going to score a lot of tries,” Van der Merwe said shortly before the team’s departure for the weekend’s tournament.
The coach’s confidence sprouts from what Philippa van der Merwe achieved last year while touring with the Delta Drone Tuks WomensRugby7’s in France. The former sprinter scored six tries. What made it remarkable was that she also had played no rugby game until she arrived in France. She only trained twice with the team before going on tour.
Van der Merwe joked and said taking that performance into account; it could mean that Phillips possibly can score 12 tries because she has attended eight training sessions.
Phillips does not want to go on record making bold statements about her scoring try after try.
“I will be honest about being slightly nervous especially considering that I have never played a rugby game but at the same time getting the opportunity to play in France is exciting. The only thing I can promise is that I will give it my best. Hopefully, I won’t disappoint my teammates,” said the engineering student.
The reason why Phillips switched sporting codes is that she is always up to try something new. She acknowledged that the prospect of being tackled does not bother her, but she still got to get her mind around to getting used to the idea of tackling other players.
“Running with the ball and getting tackled is all about adrenaline. But going for a tackle is a conscious decision. I will admit so far during our training sessions I have tried avoiding it,” she said.
Delta Drone TuksWomensRugby7’s will be playing the Stanislas 7’s (19-20 May) and the Centrale 7’s (22-23 May) in France before going on to play the Benidorm 7’s (26-27 May) in Spain.
Only five of the players who represented Tuks last year is again in the touring squad. However, Van der Merwe is quietly confident that the team will give a good account of themselves.
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