New Bond University rugby coach Rob Baumann’s first assignment with the Bull Sharks doesn’t get much bigger than a chance to claim the first Women's Club Championship.
The Bull Sharks will be looking to make history on Saturday when they take on the cream of Sydney club rugby to determine the premier women’s program in the country.
After taking out the 2022 Queensland Premier Rugby Premiership, Bond have earned the right to take on the Gordon Gazelles who won the Jack Scott Cup in Sydney by defeating Sydney University in the grand final.
Baumann understands the challenge ahead but is excited for the Bull Sharks to highlight their skills ahead of the new season.
“It’s a bit of pressure I guess but at the end of day it's a game of footy,” he said. “It's great for the girls and the women's game so it’s exciting to be involved in the inaugural match.”
Baumann coached the first Super W premiership with the NSW Waratahs in 2018 and has spent many years coaching in Sydney. He will begin his campaign for Bond against a familiar foe.
“I’ve coached a number of the girls who we are playing against so I have a good understanding of their side and what areas we can look to expose,” he said.
Gordon will come to Queensland with a powerful forward pack. The Bull Sharks will be aiming to highlight their attacking flair against the bigger Gordon side.
“We will be looking to play a quick game of rugby,” Baumann said. “We want to use the ball and move the opposition around with our strong fitness base.”
Bond will take on Gordon at Wests Rugby Club in Toowong at 12.30pm on Saturday. The match will be broadcast live on Stan Sport.
Afterwards, the Bull Sharks men will have their first competitive hit-outs of the season at the same venue.
A combined second and third grade squad will take part in trials against Wests and Souths.
The first grade side will play Souths Magpies at 3:45pm.