16 Aug 2018
Congratulations to the talented Burke twins who have recently been selected into the Brumbies Women's Academy by ACTAS (ACT Academy of Sport). The girls also co captained the ACT Brumbies 15's girls team last week.
Both girls have attended JCS since Kindergarten and have played rugby since they were 8 and as they enter their final HSC year at JCS we learn about their journey so far and celebrate the rugby achievements.
Rhianna's most memorable rugby moment has been "Winning the first year of the u17s girls competition. I started this competition to grow the sport and encourage more girls. Now this competition is taking off and the standard of rugby is exciting for the future!"
Rhianna Burke
She also values being captain of the school girls side, after being in the team for 4 years.
Kirra's most memorable moment to date was the day she received an email to say she had made the youth Australia squad.
The girls have been successful rugby athletes for many years and with regards to this years rugby achievements alone, the girls have made the U18 ACT School girls team and captaincy, the University 7s with UC and the ACTAS womens training squad.
Both girls are proud to represent the school in everything they do and Rhianna tries to play at least 1 tournament with the school each year, however when ever she plays for the brumbies or at other competitions. She is also keen to get a girls team happening.
Kirra has represented JCS since Yr 6 with the PSSA sport every year along with all school based competitions.
Kirra Burke
The girls have also represented the school in athletics, swimming, skiing and x country every year and have always enjoyed helping other students along the way.
Given the girls train before and after school most days along with 1 afternoon in Canberra, the girls credit their JCS teachers for helping them balance school and rugby along the way. They also value them for investing time in many ways including keeping them on task and updated.
When talking about future ambitions the girls hope to represent Australia in the 7s or 15s and continue to develop the sport to help it grow.
The girls have also become fantastic positive role models for students to want to achieve their own personal best over their years as students at JCS.
Rhianna's advice for fellow students aspiring to be athletes is to "take every opportunity and run with it. The teachers at JCS are there to help you, they want to see you succeed and do the best you can. Train hard and keep going, failure only makes an athlete stronger and its how they deal with that is the out come."
Click below to watch these two videos where the girls talk about their Rugby journey, successes and future ambitions in the sport.