Read about our Super W skipper Kiri Lingman ahead of her sides clash with Western Australia this Saturday.
POSITION: Backrow
HEIGHT: 175cm
WEIGHT: 75kg
DATE OF BIRTH: 01/11/1994
SENIOR CLUB: Sunnybank
HIGH SCHOOL: Clairvaux Mackillop College
SUPER W DEBUT: 2018, v NSW
SUPER W CAPS: 6
SUPER W POINTS: 5
How are you feeling ahead of Queensland’s first Super W home game for 2019?
There's some good nerves but I’m mostly excited.
Everyone’s been working really hard and I can't wait to see how that translates on the field.
Last year’s Super W competition was a real step forward for women's XV's in Australia and I think this year will be even better.
What do you bring to the side and what can we expect from you as a player? what do you expect of yourself?
I would like to think after a few years of rep footy now I bring a bit of experience, but this year my main goal is just to lead by example and be a controlled voice when needed.
From myself, I expect to step up each and every game and work hard on the field.
What does playing for Queensland in Super W mean for you?
Queensland Women's XV has always been special for me.
It was the first representative team that I ever made, and it's always had players that I’ve looked up to in it.
To see it evolve into something like Super W and to be a part of that is a bit surreal and means everything to me.
Every time I put on a Queensland jersey it feels just like the first time.
How was the recent Super W camp and what did you learn?
The camp was great and not just for the big things like the group activities, even though everyone really put in for them.
It was more so the little things I noticed, like playing small games in down times where everyone would get involved and cleaning up before and after meals.
It was like being with family, and that's what we are.
How well we all bonded, the laughter and just happiness from everyone involved was massive.
What can you tell us about some of the players in the Queensland side?
After the camp fire night in camp I got to see the more creative side of some of our players.
Lori Cramer is a wizard with a bongo drum and we're apparently a dance crew as well (Dora and Kayla).
But mostly I have a lot of respect for the girls in this team.
Everyone either works, studies or has families that they take care of and they still turn up for every training and put in extras.
What initially drew you to Rugby?
What has kept you in the sport as opposed to taking a different path?
There had been a lot of attention to Rugby in the media just before I started because it had just been announced Sevens would be an Olympic sport.
My parents had always loved and been involved in Rugby Sunnybank Rugby club was just down the road, so I thought it would be good to go and give it a try.
I was actually quite terrible when I first started but I loved the challenge and was inspired by the players around me.
The opportunities that were there at a representative level made me want to get to that level too.
How do you find being a female athlete in 2019 as opposed to when you first started playing in 2014?
There's a huge contrast to how things were five years ago now.
The biggest change is support.
Support in how competitions are run, how trainings are held and access to professional facilities.
To me the biggest change is being treated like professionals and the steps that are now put in place to make sure we can play and play well.
Who is your biggest inspiration in Rugby?
My biggest Rugby inspiration is my parents.
They both played and coached most of their lives and really only stopped because myself and my two sisters were getting a bit older and starting our own sporting adventures and they wanted to focus on that.
For them to put aside something that they love so we could enjoy sport ourselves is the reason why I’m even here.
I always play for them and the opportunities they’ve given me to be where I am today.
