Abbi Spooner was forced into an impossible choice this week…her biggest break in rugby sevens or a semi-final with her club.
The 19-year-old daughter of former Wallaby Nathan Spooner has elected to play for Queensland in Sunday’s ISPS HANDA Next Gen 7s series in Sydney.
She’s all in to play the halfback role in the three games scheduled against the NSW Waratahs and ACT Brumbies at Forshaw Park.
She’ll also have one ear on progress in Brisbane where her Easts club are in the knockout semi-final against Sunnybank in the StoreLocal Founders Cup at Sunnybank Rugby Club.
“I was definitely a bit upset when I found out the semi was the same day as the sevens,” Spooner admitted.
“We’ve worked so hard at Easts all year but I trust the girls fully that there’ll be a prelim final to play next weekend.
“This is the highest level of sevens I’ve been selected for. It’s a great opportunity.
“Playing Next Gen 7s is the pathway to Australia A and Australia. It’s definitely the pathway you want to be on when you aspire to play at the Olympics one day.”
The up-and-comer is a smart ball-player and fearless in defence. She's also taken on a few tips from dad this year with her switch from fullback to the No.10 role at Easts.
Those who imagine sevens is less physically taxing than the 15-a-side game need to think again. Both have their different demands.
Spooner was sidelined for four weeks earlier this season when she copped a compressed fracture of the cheekbone from a stray elbow in an Australia A sevens trial.
She is excited to jump into a Queensland team which showed exciting patches of form in the first Next Gen 7s tournament on the Sunshine Coast earlier this month. She'll feel at home beside Easts clubmates Carys Dallinger and Anna Park.
“After months of training, it was nice for the girls to gel on the field and you can see the difference since in working on our improvements. We do have a young squad but lots of very good players for the future,” Spooner said.
Evie Sampson, a standout on the Sunshine Coast, has elected to play for Bond University in Sunday’s major semi-final against Wests at Sunnybank Rugby Club.
The Queensland side gets a boost with the return of skipper Sophie Duff, who missed the Sunshine Coast leg with illness.
Emmisyn Wynyard (groin) and Kaelyn Passi (head knock) are out. Tahlia Evans and Matilda Richards come in.
Queensland Reds
Anna Park
Ava Wereta
Carys Dallinger
Charli Nikola
Tahlia Evans
Abbi Spooner
Matilda Richards
Kianna Maclean
Madi Collins
Madi Pomerenke
Tahli Devine
Taleah Ackland
Sophie Duff (c)
ISPS HANDA NEXT GEN 7s (ALL GAMES LIVE ON RUGBY.COM.AU)
Round 2 - Sunday - Forshaw Rugby Park, Sydney
9.30am: Waratahs v Brumbies
11.00am: Reds v Waratahs
12.30pm: Brumbies v Reds
2.00pm: Waratahs v Brumbies
3.30pm: Reds v Waratahs
