Local rugby player earns respect in another town

“I was very excited to play, I didn’t think I would want to and then ended up playing for the U9 and U10 teams.”

With the arrival of Women’s Month, Panthers Junior Rugby Club’s first female player took to the field where she represented the club.

Skyla Walker represented the club when its U6 to U13 teams competed in several games in Springs at the end of July.

Chairperson of the club Andrew Walker said that Skyla has been a member of the club since its inception.

“On some Sundays, she would play with the boys and on other Sundays just help the coaches,” said Walker. Skyla said she felt excited being the first girl to play for the club.

“I even tackled a boy who had to be carried off the field.”

It was the first time in 22 years that the Panthers fielded a junior team. The club U10s won their game while its U12s lost by four points.

“Some of the games overlapped and we didn’t have enough players to play a full team,” said Walker.

“It was a great experience and we now know what we need to work on.”

Skyla explained that her rugby journey started at the age of five with Ruga Kids where she learned the basics. “I watched an old rugby video of when I played when I was five years old and I got excited,” explained Skyla. “I also used to play with my big brother Logan and my dad.” She said her favourite part of the sport is tackling and identified Springbok rugby player Malcolm Marx as her role model. Skyla explained that Marx is her role model because when he steps onto the field South Africa normally wins. She also has had a few photographs taken alongside Marx. Skyla also plays soccer for a boy’s soccer team for Edenvale Football Club, however, her goal is to become the captain of one of the Panthers Junior Rugby Club’s teams.

Walker said seeing girls take up rugby is amazing. “Girls like Skyla are so underrated; Skyla is very talented and deserves the chance to prove herself.” He said something the Panthers hope to do is develop a solid girls’ team. Walker called on any girls interested in rugby to join the club. He said although Skyla was the first female Panther to take to the field, Surika van der Merve and Victoria Shaw have also joined the club. “Women’s sport is getting more recognised worldwide and we want to be at the forefront of such changes.

“Women are succeeding in their respective sports and are getting well-deserved recognition.”