The Sunshine Coast saw some of RugbyWA’s best take to the field last week, as they donned black and gold in search of glory for their state.
Four teams stacked with Western Australian talent took to the field at the 2025 Buildcorp Australian Schools Rugby Union Championships on the Sunshine Coast last week.
For the first time in WA Rugby history, three schoolgirls' teams took to the national stage last week, with an Under 18s XVs squad in the Buildcorp Rugby AU Junior Rugby Union Championships, as well as a Under 18s and Under 16s 7s squad in the Buildcorp Australian School Girls 7s Open and U16 competitions.
An Under 18s XVs Boys side was additionally competing in the Buildcorp Australian Schools Open Boys XVs, featuring RugbyWA Pathways and Western Force Academy young guns.
The Under 18s XVs Boys kicked off the seven days of rugby on Monday, July 7, coming up against Queensland 1, in a tough battle on the Stadium Field. Despite a dominant performance from Queensland’s top youth team, Under 16s Wallabies player, Chase Bunce, who plays his club season at Associates, put one try past the line in the 29th minute.
Despite the 48-5 score line, the boys held out strong, and took their weeks of training and dedication to the game into their second game the following day. In a huge performance against the ACT, a penalty goal on the siren by Kaiawha Heke secured the Under 18s their first win of the tournament, and put them in the running for the playoffs for fifth position. Tries against ACT were scored by Chase Bunce (7’) and Charles Cairns (40’). The final score saw WA victorious against ACT, 10-13.
Entering Day 3, the stakes were high as the Under 18s sought WA’s highest ever finish at Australian Schools Rugby Union Championships for their junior boys’ side. With Queensland 2 as their competitor, the competition was tough, with strong defence and big performances across the board. With one try on the board from Iziah Lolohea (45’), it came down to overtime, where another penalty goal from Kaiawha Heke put Western Australia one point ahead – and etched the side’s name into our history books.
The Under 18 XVs Girls entered the competition on Wednesday, July 9, ready to rip after weeks of training and development. Game 1 saw the side face Brisbane City, where a three-point difference saw WA crowned winners. Tries for WA were scored by Wests Scarborough’s Kiriwai Tetuhi, team Vice-Captain Chylah Puki and Southern Lions’ Palace Koia, with a conversion completed by Terina Te Tana, from Wanneroo. Putting themselves in good position before Game 2, the final score of the U18s XVs Game 1 saw WA, 17, defeating Brisbane City, 14.
Game 2 saw the girls come out with a bang against Queensland Country, looking to secure their place in the Grand Final match. With their strong side out in full force, the WA girls walked away with a massive 24-0 win over the Queensland Country side. Wanneroo’s Ella Molloy-Broughton put on a star performance, scoring a hattrick in her first appearance for the day, sneaking past the line no matter the defence. Makaea Monk. Also from Wanneroo, also put one over the line, with Terina Te Tana and Wests Scarborough’s Bella Houghton both scoring one conversion each.
All their hard work throughout Games 1 and 2 saw the Under 18 XVs Girls make their way into the Grand Final match against Sydney Juniors on Thursday, July 10. A milestone moment, the game marked a huge opportunity for Junior Girls in Western Australia, solidifying their place and some of the best in the country. Coming up against some of the best juniors players, it was a tough battle for WA, against some solid defence and strong plays. Despite walking away with a loss, with the final score 0-34 to Sydney Juniors, the WA Girls finished in an incredible 2nd place, putting their mark on WA Schoolgirls history.
The Under 16 and Under 18s 7s competition kicked off bright and early on Friday, with the U18s taking on ACT, and the U16s taking on the Northern Territory.
Day 1 saw three big wins for the Under 18 Girls, with a 10-24 victory over ACT, with tries from Zhara Petia, Talitha Heta, Teiana Mainwaring and Kylah-Rey Tuheke Kupa, who also completed two conversions; a 12-24 victory over Victoria, with tries from Rimu Pomare, a try and a conversion from Heta, and two tries and a conversion from Tuheke Kupa; and a 19-30 win over Queensland White, with tries from Petia, Heta, Pomare, in addition to two tries from Awhina Heke and one from Anne-Marie Banas. Their winning streak came to an end against a tough New South Wales side, with Heke putting WA on the board with a final score of 40-5.
For the Under 16s, Day 1 saw two big wins and two losses in Game 2 and 4. Game 1 against the Northern Territory was a 39-5 powerhouse performance from the Under 16s, with Hinemanu Tutaki scoring a hattrick off the bench in addition to a conversion, Mia Shelley scoring two and a conversion, and one try each for Ava Berryman and Aalijah Manu. Two conversions separated WA from New South Wales 2 in Game 2, with Shelley and Berryman both crossing the line, with Shelley completing one conversion, and Izzy Slater scoring her first try of the tournament, finishing the match 21-17. Game 3 saw a win against Victoria, with two tries and two conversions from Shelley, a try and conversion from Slater, and a try from Tutaki, with a final score of 7-26. Game 4 against New South Wales 1 was a tough battle, with a final score of 46-12, Slater scoring a try and conversion, and a try from Maiana Halligan.
Day 2 saw the Under 18s enter the Cup Pool, and face three of the strongest sides in the competition. Game 1 saw the girls up against eventual tournament winners, Queensland Maroon, where they suffered 1 31-5 loss, with Mainwaring crossing the line for WA. Game 2 saw WA come off second best to New South Wales 1, 29-7, with a try from Heke and a conversion from Tuheke Kupa. Game 3 was a closer battle against New South Wales 2, with a conversion giving the Eastern States side the win, 15-17. Tries in Game 3 were scored by Tuheke Hupa (2) and Heta.
The Under 16s started Day 2 with a 17-5 loss to Lloydies, with Myla Gowdy putting WA on the board. They followed this up with a 5-20 victory over Queensland White, with tries from Slater, Halligan, Gowdy and Manu. Game 3 saw the Under 16s face tournament victors, Queensland Maroon, where a tough battle saw them come off second best, with a final score of 24-10. Both tries for the game for WA were by Slater.
Sunday saw both teams compete in their final matches of the tournament, with the Under 18s taking on New South Wales 2 in the Bronze Final, and the Under 16s battle for fifth place against Queensland White. In a miraculous turn out, both teams drew their finals, finishing equal third and equal fifth.
In their battle for Bronze against NSW 2, tries for the Under 18 girls were scored by Heke and Petia, with a conversion from Tuheke Kupa. The final score was 12-12.
For the Under 16s, tries against Queensland White were scored by Shelley, Manu and Slater, who also completed one conversion. The final score was 17-17.
Following their individual competitions, the following individuals received Awards for their sides:
- Brian Peace Award for Player’s Player – Bareek Kleine Deters-Ausage (U18 Boys XVs), Izzy Slater (U16 Girls 7s),Teiana Mainwaring (U18 Girls 7s)
- Sugerman-McLean Award for Best Team Person – Joel Ockenden (U18 Boys XVs), Ava Berrryman (U16 Girls 7s), Elizabeth Taylor (U18 Girls 7s)
Additionally, Zhara Petia (Under 18 Girls 7s) and Mia Shelley (Under 16 Girls 7s) were selected in the Girls ASRU Merit Team, for their outstanding performance throughout the tournament.
As massive week of rugby, showcasing the best of Western Australia’s Junior Rugby scene. Congratulations to all representatives – you made WA proud.
Tournament Results – Buildcorp Australian Schools Open Boys XVs
QLD 1 (48) d. WA (5)
ACT (10) l. WA (13)
QLD 2 (7) l. WA (8)
Tournament Results – Buildcorp Rugby AU Junior Rugby Union Championships
Brisbane City (14) l. WA (17)
WA (24) d. QLD Country (0)
WA (0) l. Sydney Juniors (34)
Tournament Results - Buildcorp Australian School Girls 7s Open
Day 1
ACT (10) l. WA (24)
VIC (12) l. WA (24)
QLD White (19) l. WA (30)
NSW 1 (40) d. WA (5)
Day 2 – Cup Pool
QLD Maroon (31) d. WA (5)
NSW 1 (29) d. WA (7)
WA (15) l. NSW 2 (17)
Bronze Match
NSW 2 (12) equal WA (12)
Tournament Results - Buildcorp Australian School Girls 7s U16
Day 1
NT (5) l. WA (39)
NSW 2 (21) d. WA (17)
VIC (7) l. WA (26)
NSW 1 (46) d. WA (12)
Day 2
Lloydies (17) d. WA (5)
QLD White (5) l. WA (20)
QLD Maroon (24) d. WA (10)
5th Overall v. 6th Overall Playoffs
WA (17) equal QLD White (17)
