ACT Brumbies' new Super W breed to inspire the next generation

The emerging outside back had been tearing the central west competition to shreds. She had forced her way into the frame for the all-conquering NSW Waratahs.

So when he saw her in the flesh at a Wallaroos training session, the would-be ACT Brumbies Super W coach knew he had to ask some questions.

Now Mason-Spice is set to make her Brumbies debut at outside centre in the side's season opener against the Melbourne Rebels at Seiffert Oval on Saturday.

"She's been playing out in the country, she is only 21 years of age and hasn't played a whole lot of 15-a-side rugby," Hawke said.

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"I first was able to get a look at her at a Wallaroos training session. I asked some questions about who she was and where she was from.

"The other lady there said she might be keen to come to the Brumbies and we might be lucky enough to get her here. She's tough, she's tough as nails."

Clearly, she's one to watch. So too is "warhorse" Rebecca Smyth at flanker.

And rest assured there should be plenty there to watch as the Brumbies launch a day-long festival of rugby in Hawke's hometown of Queanbeyan.

"It's going to be an awesome festival of rugby out here. They're starting early in the morning, and one of the things the ladies want to do is inspire that next generation," Hawke said.

"By having all of those girls here, they all hopefully want to wear our Brumbies logo one day and aspire to be a Super W player."

The day kicks off with an under 14s battle between Wests and Uni-Norths/Yass at 9.35am. That clash is followed by Jindabyne and the Canberra Royals in under 16s, and Trinity versus Daramalan in under 18s.

The Gungahlin Eagles face Hall in a women's 10s match from 12.40pm before the Queanbeyan Whites face Goulburn in a Premier XVs showdown at 1.30pm.

The significance is not lost on Brumbies inside centre Siokapesi Palu as she glances around a venue filled with sponsor logos and the Super W crest painted on the halfway mark.

"When we were younger we obviously didn't have the opportunity to watch women play at this elite level," Palu said.

"Just giving those young ones hope, and watching us play, will give them an opportunity to grow within their rugby career.

"We were all there once upon a time, and it's nice to see our young ones come up and stay around and watch us.

"It will mean that much more to us, having to play in front of our friends and family and hoping to take away the win.

"We've been training so hard for this for the past eight months, we want to get the most out of it."

But so too do the Rebels, who have endured lockdown after lockdown as the coronavirus pandemic hit Melbourne almost as often as Justis Huni battered Paul Gallen in a heavyweight boxing showdown.

"We know they're a new team. We also know Victoria has gone through the lockdown recently and they're coming to play with a purpose," Brumbies winger Talei Qalo Wilson said.

"We spoke about it on Wednesday night, and it was nice for Hawkey to just highlight that they're not coming here just for a game.

"They're coming here with a purpose, and that is to play for their state, Victoria."

SUPER W ROUND ONE

Saturday: ACT Brumbies v Melbourne Rebels at Seiffert Oval, 3pm. Tickets from Eventbrite. Gates open at 9.30am, free entry before 12.30pm.

ACT Brumbies squad: 1. Iris Verebalavu, 2. Harriet Elleman, 3. Louise Burrows, 4. Michaela Leonard (c), 5. Grace Kemp, 6. Pearl Rakete, 7. Rebecca Smyth, 8. Zali Waihape-Andrews, 9. Jane Garraway, 10. Ella Ryan, 11. Hailey Derera, 12. Siokapesi Palu, 13. Lillyann Mason-Spice, 14. Talei Qalo Wilson, 15. Claudia Obst. Replacements: 16. Montana Ojeda, 17. Niki Paterson, 18. Kimberley Fyfe, 19. Ash Fernandez, 20. Tayla Stafford, 21. Susannah Cooke, 22. Apryll Green, 23. Tess Staines

Melbourne Rebels squad: 1. Janita Kareta, 2. Ashley Marsters, 3. Eirenei Nanai, 4. Nuala O'Connor, 5. Nawel Remini, 6. Michaela Maunsell, 7. Melanie Kawa (c), 8. Willow Rowland, 9. Jessica Campbell, 10. Allysaa Loliesio-Pua, 11. Kelera Raty, 12. Jade Te Aute, 13. Annie Buntine, 14. Amy Williams, 15. Sarah Hogan. Replacements: 16. Emily Harvey, 17. Celeste Utumapu, 18. Maryann Utai, 19. Tiarah Minns, 20. Norman Fuaiva'a, 21. Kirsty Matapa, 22. Jemma Collins, 23. Rosalia Leumuava

Festival of rugby: ACTJRU under 14s - Wests v Uni-Norths/Yass at 9.35am; ACTRU under 16s - Jindabyne v Canberra Royals at 10.25am; ACTJRU under 18s - Trinity v Daramalan at 11.25am; ACT Women's 10s - Gungahlin Eagles v Hall at 12.40pm; ACT Women's Premier XVs - Goulburn v Queanbeyan Whites at 1.30pm; Super W round one - ACT Brumbies v Melbourne Rebels at 3pm. All games at Seiffert Oval.