The Bull Sharks women’s program has been a standout in 2021. With plenty of the squad’s experienced players on representative duties, the younger brigade has stepped up. PICTURE: Stephen Tremain
With all six Bond Rugby Club teams now on the run home to the finals, it’s the perfect opportunity for Director of Rugby Luca Liussi to hand out his mid-season review, which boasts a kit-full of achievements already in 2021.
Women’s 7s:
The entire Bond women’s rugby program under coaches Setu Naseri and Lawrence Faifua has been a standout success, with the 7s the pinnacle so far.
Bond sent out an early warning flare to opposing teams, winning the Inverell 7s in early March.
They then went on an amazing roller-coaster ride in the Aon Women’s Uni 7s Series - finishing third in their first regional tournament before excelling to be undefeated in both the second regional round and then the first of the national finals tournaments on May 1-2 in Sydney.
Then the crescendo! The Bull Sharks won the second finals round, hosted at The Canal, and were crowned series champions, the first time Bond had achieved that honour.
The amazing Levi sisters (Teagan and Maddison) were named in the Aon Uni Sevens Dream team.
And the accolades kept coming. Teagan and Maddison, with Emily Bass and Sophie Holyman were later named in the Aon 7s All Stars (The Aussie A team) and Caity Costello, Diaz Seumanutafa and Georgia Sim were selected in the QAS squad.
Maddison Levi then capped an incredible season to date with selection in the Australian team for the Tokyo Olympics.
She clinched her selection with a standout performance at the recent Pacific Aus Sports Oceania Sevens held in Townsville.
The women’s rugby sevens will be held at the Tokyo Olympics from July 29-31, at Tokyo Stadium. The Australian women have been drawn against the United States, China and hosts Japan in their pool.
That’s Super!:
Proving how crucial the Bond Rugby Club is in the Gold Coast representative pathway, four Bull Sharks played Super Rugby this year.
Angus Blyth, Zane Nonggorr and Alex Mafi all wore Reds colours as the Queensland team went on to win the Super Rugby AU title with a come-from-behind 19-16 win over the Brumbies.
Meanwhile, Bond University John Eales Scholarship recipient, Jack Winchester, headed west early in the year after being signed by the Western Force. The talented hooker is now back with Bond.
Even more Super!:
An indication of just how successful the Bond women’s rugby program is – and it is just in its second year – was the selection of nine Bull Sharks in the Reds Super W squad of 27.
Hats off to: Lucy Lockhart (vice captain), Aleena Greenhalgh, Caity Costello, Carola Kreis, Diaz Seumanutafa, Emily Bass, Madi Schuck, Mel Wilks and Sophie Holyman.
Seven of those players - Lucy Lockhart, Aleena Greenhalgh, Carola Kreis, Diaz Seumanutafa, Emily Bass, Madi Schuck and Mel Wilks – were part of the Reds team that fought out a tough 45-12 loss in the Super W final against the NSW Waratahs in Coffs Harbour.
Then came the icing on the cake. Lucy Lockhart, Aleena Greenhalgh and Mel Weeks have been named in a 40-player Wallaroos Players of Interest (PONI) squad.
Rugby Australia will soon announce Test match dates for the Wallaroos. Meanwhile PONI squad members will train within selected squad groups in their home states.
Bull Sharks have finals scent:
Going into Round 14 of an 18-round competition all Bond sides remain in the finals hunt. The current positions are: First Grade – 3rd; Second Grade – 3rd; Third Grade – 7th; Colts 1 – 4th; Colts 2 – 7th; Women’s First Grade – 4th.
The men’s First Grade side are away to second-placed GPS in Rd 14. They then are back at The Canal against ladder leaders UQ. Grant Anderson’s side has done exceptionally well considering a massive injury toll, but some of those players will return soon from the casualty ward.
The Bond men’s First Grade made their finals debut last year and exited in the preliminary finals (as did Colts 1).
The Bull Sharks premier women will soon welcome back their rep players. Their Round 14 clash will be a massive test, against GPS, who are on top of the ladder.
Covid spoiler:
Bond University’s home of rugby, The Canal, is a focal point of the code on the Gold Coast. That reputation was to be enhanced over the next month with some major ticket items … then Covid stepped in.
Recemtly the Wallabies were to have an opposed training session at The Canal against our First Grade squad – CANCELLED!
Since 2015 Bond has been the home of the Under 20s Oceania Tournament. A scaled down version, which involved two matches between the Junior Wallabies and Junior All Blacks were scheduled for The Canal on July 6 and 10 – POSTPONED!
On July 22 The Canal was to have hosted a Test match between the Wallaroos and Samoa Women – POSTPONED!
Hopefully the Under 20 clash and women’s Test match will be re-scheduled soon for The Canal.
John Eales Scholarship:
One of Australia’s most prized sporting scholarships, the Bond University’s John Eales Rugby Excellence Scholarship, is open to applicants.
The scholarship has been awarded since 2014 and has already proven its aim of assisting aspirational rugby players to reach their academic and sporting goals.
Among its attractions is the fact that recipients receive one-on-one mentoring from rugby great John Eales.
For information on the John Eales Rugby Excellence Scholarship:
https://sport.bond.edu.au/programs/sport-scholarships
Scholarship applications are open now and will close on Sunday, September 5.
Recipients of the John Eales Rugby Excellence Scholarship:
2014 Douglas MacMillan; 2014 Ben Hunt; 2015 Alex Mafi; 2015 PJ van den Berg; 2016 Dylan Riley; 2016 Gavin Luka; 2017 Angus Blyth; 2018 Lachlan Connors; 2018 Maxwell Dowd; 2019 Spencer Jeans; 2019 Matthew Minogue; 2019 Jack Winchester; 2020 Wilson Blyth; 2021 Joseph Fittock; 2021 Jake Upfield.
Farewell and a big thanks to Trish
The Bond Rugby Club says farewell and a massive ‘THANK YOU!’ to Trish Sullivan who recently left the club. Trish’s contribution to the Rugby Club over the past three and a half years has been nothing short of outstanding!
The Club thanks Trish for her dedication and wishes her all the best for her future endeavours.
Vale Greg Dux
It is with a heavy heart that the Bond Rugby Club acknowledges the sad passing of Greg Dux, who was a former Breakers Colts Manager.
Greg played four times for Queensland and was a highly regarded senior lecturer at Bond University.
Greg was also a member of the Norths Club and it was fitting that we were able to hold a moment’s silence in memory of Greg at our recent game against Norths in Brisbane.