Jane Garraway leads Uni-Norths Owls into ACT women's rugby grand final

As she stood beside her father after a game, few could have thought one day they'd re-enact the same picture with Garraway in an ACT Brumbies jersey after a Super W game.

Safe to say the 23-year-old scrumhalf's rugby apprenticeship started earlier than most, and now she is searching for more grand final success of her own.

It has led her to the Uni-Norths Owls, who will search for back-to-back premierships when they face the Canberra Royals in the Women Premier XVs decider at Viking Park on Saturday.

While Garraway has long seemed destined for a life on the rugby field, some teammates turned to the game on a whim - and it could spark an Owls dynasty with the club's 10s team playing a grand final last week before the XV side takes centre stage.

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"It's great our women's program at Uni is growing, we've got girls coming back every year," Garraway said.

"It's really encouraging to see so many new faces, and people coming in and giving rugby a go. We see that obviously with girls playing in our 10s division last year, and we've got them now playing in our XVs team in the grand final this year. There's definitely a lot of growth.

"We've got a really strong women's program, we've got some really key coaches on board that are really enthusiastic, really supportive, they get girls to keep coming back every week.

"We've also got a really good core strong leadership group that encourages girls. That's how we're able to fill two sides."

The women's grand final will be moved to field one at Viking Park this year, and it will be played after the Canberra Royals meet the Gungahlin Eagles in the John I Dent Cup decider.

The Owls boast a star-studded backline featuring the likes of Emerina Marsh-Kiro, Sammie Wood and Claudia Obst - but Garraway says it's the forwards who will set the tone this week.

Hooker Tania Afamasaga has been one of the competition's standout players in 2020 while Crystal Papalii - sister of Canberra Raiders superstar Josh Papalii - has emerged as a wrecking ball in the No. 8 jersey.

"Our season this year for Owls, with everything that's going on, has been a little bit rough," Garraway said.

"We had pre-season back in January, took that bit of a break and came back into the season at the start of May.

"It's been a little bit unsettling but the girls have definitely taken on those tough and challenging times and been able to keep trying, keep pushing. We've had a really good season so far.

"This weekend, seeing as though it's probably going to be wet conditions, it's going to be won in the forward pack. Obviously being a back myself, I wish we can spread the ball out wide and play a bit more, but it's a grand final, it's always the forward pack who does the work."

JOHN I DENT CUP GRAND FINAL DAY

Saturday at Viking Park: John I Dent Cup - Canberra Royals v Gungahlin Eagles on field one, 3.15pm.

ACT Women Premier XVs - Uni-Norths Owls v Canberra Royals on field one, 5.30pm.

Spence Cup [second grade] - Gungahlin Eagles v Tuggeranong Vikings on field one, 1.20pm.

Colts - Queanbeyan Whites v Canberra Royals on field one, 11am.

Third grade - Gungahlin Eagles v Wests Lions on field two, 11.40am.

Fourth grade - Queanbeyan Whites v Wests Lions on field two, 9.30am.