Maria Stavreas had a vision of reigniting women's rugby at Wests to give girls a pathway to play the sport they love.
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The last thing she expected to happen was to find herself in her lounge room at home practicing the dark arts of the scrum.
Stavreas will make her ACT women's rugby debut when the Wests Lionesses rejoin the competition for the first time in 13 years.
The moment will be even sweeter when their opponents, Easts, make their return to the competition for the first time in 15 years.
Stavreas was one of the main driving forces behind reviving a Wests team this season, although she admits she attended her first rugby game four years ago as an uneducated spectator to support her partner, veteran front-rower Ben Coutts.
The journey over the past 12 months has led the Wests women's team securing a sponsor - Employ Me - and Coutts helping coach Stavreas in between preparations for their wedding last month.
"I'm surrounded by rugby in every part of my life at the moment," Stavreas laughed.
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"Our under-18s girls team won the grand final last year, but we didn't have a senior team. So I thought, 'let's make it happen'.
"I decided to put some boots on and train with the girls in case we needed help with numbers. So far I've played every game and I'm loving it.
"Always nervous, but it's adrenaline. It's exciting because it's women in sport, and that's cool."
Wests and Easts will join a new-look women's competition this year as they attempt to dethrone the three traditional powerhouses: Tuggeranong, Royals and Uni-Norths.
ACT rugby has also started a 10-a-side women's competition, which includes teams from Gungahlin, Goulburn and Bungendore.
Officials have also introduced a new best and fairest award, named in honour of former ACT and Wallaroos captain Louise Ferris. Ferris was Canberra's first Wallaroos' representative in 1994.
But Wests' reintroduction to the competition is about more than premierships or medals for Stavreas and Coutts. Coutt has been playing for Wests since 1998, son Hawk plays in the Wests' under-10s team and family dinners are followed by lounge-room training sessions.
"Ben's very good at what he does, but it's very amusing for the children to watch Ben and I locked in scrum positions. But good fun as well," Stavreas laughed.
Coutts adds: "I've given her some pointers, but she's playing a bit of second row as well. I'm pretty impressed ... I've shown her a few tricks.
"I'm starting to learn to stop being surprised at the things Maria does - she's an amazing woman. She loves being a part of it and she wants the girls to experience that as well - the culture and camaraderie."
Coutts will play for Wests' John I Dent Cup side against Easts on Saturday afternoon as the team chases its first win of the premier division season.
Wests have blown big leads against Tuggeranong and Royals in recent weeks, but have shown signs they are on the way up while Easts are also searching for their breakthrough win this year.
CANBERRA RUGBY UNION
Women: Easts v Wests at Giffith Oval, 10.55am; Royals v Uni-Norths Owls at Phillip Oval, 1.40pm. Tuggeranong - bye.
John I Dent Cup: Easts v Wests at Griffith Oval, 3.05pm; Royals v Uni-Norths Owls at Phillip Oval, 3.05pm; Tuggeranong Vikings v Queanbeyan Whites at Viking Park, 3.25pm. Gungahlin Eagles - bye.
