Redmen captain-coach confident in new format
GRAFTON Redmen women’s captain-coach Tamar McHugh is used to challenges.
During the day, McHugh works in the disability sector at Caringa, Grafton where her role is to support and empower those with disabilities which she describes as a both rewarding and personally enriching.
There’s no denying working in the disability sector has its challenges.
Those close to McHugh, including her teammates, know the Redmen captain is not one to shy away from adversity thanks to her positive attitude.
On the playing field, McHugh has come a long way from Saturdays trying to scrape up enough numbers to take the field to featuring in the past two Mid North Coast Women’s grand finals.
But that was sevens and ten-a-side rugby.
This season the traditional format of 15-a-side rugby has been introduced…another challenge for the Redmen Captain.
“Any type of change can be met with discomfort and nerves of the unknown,” McHugh admitted.
“However, I think shifting the focus from ten’s rugby to fifteen- a- side and embracing what’s to come will be an exciting process, not only for us as a team, but right across the whole Mid North Coast Zone.
“Positionally we will have to make some changes as playing positions in tens and fifteens are very different, but I am confident in the variety of players we have, so the switch should not be an issue.”
McHugh admits the change of format for the 2025 season caught her by surprise, but added, the decision by the Zone enforces just how far women’s rugby has progressed in recent years.
“I was definitely surprised that we have moved to fifteens straight away,” McHugh said. But in saying that, the growth of rugby the last few seasons shows just how strong the women’s game has become on the Mid North Coast.
“You only have to look at the pathways in most of the clubs within the Zone to see that women’s rugby is on the rise, and in big numbers.
“Also, the quality of rugby last season was incredible. It has come a long way for us especially if you look back from when we started as a team.”
For the Redmen captain, the move by the Zone to introduce fifteen-a-side rugby is an opportunity for the Grafton Club to strengthen their playing numbers and provide pathways for grassroots rugby.
“The last few years I have witnessed the growth from juniors through to seniors almost double,” McHugh said.
“You only have to look at the program last season with the junior girls in the Zone. They had U14s and U16s teams which a few years ago would never have happened…it’s amazing.
“I hope that we, the first-grade women’s team, can inspire the younger generation and have our own junior women’s sides in the near future.”
For some clubs, transitioning from 10s rugby to 15s can have its drawbacks. Ensuring you have the numbers week-in-week out could see some club’s struggle. But for McHugh, she is quietly confident the Redmen women’s side are in a strong position thanks to a targeted off-season recruitment drive.
“Recruitment in the off-season went really well,” McHugh said.
“It came about through the culture we have built, word of mouth and people reaching out wanting to be a part of a great club.
“Playing numbers are at an all-time high and we have plenty of potential, so we hope to keep that retention moving into the 2025 season.”
Nico