Rotorua Girls' High School's rugby stars

Rotorua students Ashleigh Nathan and Kerry Anderson certainly dispel the myth that rugby is a man's sport.

The Rotorua Girls' High School students appear to be the new breed of rugby players gracing the modern game.

Ashleigh 14, and Kerry 17, play for their school's 1st XV which has a four wins and one loss record this season.

Ashleigh, a Ngati Maniapoto descendant, has been playing the game for about four years.

"My brother played and I was playing soccer and then my parents told me I should play rugby to save [on travel costs] and then they both could watch our games at the same time."

It meant she had to play against boys but it didn't faze the youngster who played for the under-13 Mamaku side. In fact, it toughened up the petite openside flanker.

"I like the adrenaline and the thrill of it."

Her ability on the field was recognised last year when she made the under-18 Bay of Plenty women's team.

She said that opportunity has given her the ambition to try for the Olympics, where sevens will makes its debut at the 2016 Rio Games.

"It's something to look forward to and something to push for."

Kerry is another young rugby player keen to give sevens a crack and even the Olympics.

"We play sevens on Sundays and they [Bay of Plenty Rugby Union] are trying to get girls working towards going to the Olympics."

The Ngati Maniapoto/Te Arawa descendant said she became involved in rugby to try something different.

"I wanted to try something new. I was playing touch, netball, volleyball, basketball. But the only serious sport [for me] was touch."

Although the physical side of the sport could be a little scary, the wing/fullback tried to use her speed as a winger to avoid the contact area.

"I was pretty scared the first time I played but because I was on the wing, it wasn't that bad. I try and go around my [opponent] rather than through her."

Kerry, who has been playing rugby for about two years, is finding success in the backline.

The speedster touched down for four tries in their 141-0 win over Lakes High recently.

Both girls were involved in the Bay trials which were held in Rotorua at the weekend. It was the first trials for Kerry, who said it was an eye opener.

"It was different not playing with your team, just the communication side of it made it really hard."

Former Steamers captain Wayne Ormond, who was part of the coaching staff at the trials, said he was impressed with some of the skills shown by the trialists.

He said the Bay of Plenty Rugby Union were investing a lot of time in the hope of developing women's rugby in the region.

"I feel it's a good thing. They have key people in there driving it and they are getting coaches from the local clubs involved, which is great."