Sport
16 September, 2022
Snakes women’s skipper ready for next level of rugby
CABOOLTURE Snakes women’s captain Olivia Fidow is ready to represent Queensland Country in the Australian women’s rugby union championships in Brisbane from Saturday to Thursday (September 17 to 22).
Fidow is expected to line up at prop in matches against City North on Saturday, City West on Tuesday and City South on Thursday.
Fidow earned her spot after playing representative football for the Sunshine Coast Stingrays and South Queensland earlier in the year.
Fidow was one of three Caboolture players to represent the Stingrays at the South Queensland Championships at the Sunshine Coast.
After the Stingrays won once and lost once, Fidow was the only one of the Snakes trio to reach the next stage, which was the Queensland Country Championships in Toowoomba.
South Queensland won its three games 22-5, 32-5 and 17-5, with Fidow pushing through the middle to score a try in each of the first two games.
Fidow said the games in Toowoomba were tough, mainly because of the conditions.
“It was six-degree weather, with fog and mud,” she said.
“Our final game was at 8am. Honestly, I couldn’t even feel my toes.”
Fidow said she was honoured to earn selection for the upcoming national championship, with selection for Women’s Premier Rugby and Super W up for grabs.
Playing in next year’s Women’s Premier Rugby is already on the cards for Fidow, who recently accepted an offer to play for the Toowong-based Wests Bulldogs.
“To be honest I didn’t come into the season with the expectation to progress or make the next stage,” she said.
“It’s been gradual progress, really.
“It’s motivated me to push that extra bit.”
Fidow said the standard of rugby became tougher with each level she played, and that she didn’t bruise easily but felt plenty of bruises and scrapes from the matches at the Queensland Country Championships.
“Battle scars as I call them, show the quality of rugby,” she said.
Fidow said she felt she could improve fitness-wise, and that she was working on improving her skills.
Fidow said “togetherness” was the key to South Queensland’s success in Toowoomba, with the players gelling well after coming from a range of different clubs.
“You would think we were originally a team, as there were no major differences,” she said.
“Everyone had the passion for the game of rugby.”
Fidow said she expected another rise in standard at the upcoming championships, particularly with selection for higher honours on offer.
“I am highly motivated and determined to strive for better in terms of progressing to the premiership rugby in the Brisbane comp, to eventually being successful in making the Super Women’s level,” she said.
“I'm definitely extremely nervous and saddened to leave the Snakes as Caboolture is my home, however life is about new adventures and challenging yourself to achieve greatness.
“I will always come back home to play my part in assisting in the development and growth of our women’s rugby.”
