Narrabri duo celebrate international rugby 7s tournament success

Ruby Clayton and Emily Simpson travelled to the Cook Islands earlier this month where they competed at the 2025 Raro Rugby 7s tournament with the Pacific Nomads, who took out the under-16s girls’ division.

The Narrabri duuo and their teammates played three pool matches against the other three teams in their division and won all three games in dominant fashion, conceding just one try on their way to the finals.

They won both of their games on the opening day as they prevailed 53-5 against Redcliffe A and 53-0 against Redcliffe B. The Nomads then challenged Arorangi Bears, a team from Cook Islands, and won 42-0.

A Nomads team made up of primarily players from the Central North, New England and Mid North Coast regions went straight through to the grand final after their semi-final opponents forfeited the match, and they went up against a combined team made up of players from the two Redcliffe sides in the decider.

They managed to record another massive clean sheet victory in that match as they prevailed by a scoreline of 44-0 to be crowned champions.

That saw them finish the tournament having won by a combined scoreline of 192-5.

Emily played on the wing at the tournament while Ruby was a loosehead prop, and they combined for eight tries between them across the four games.

Both Narrabri girls described the trip and the tournament as being right up there with the best experiences of a lifetime.

It was Ruby’s second international rugby trip this year after she travelled to Japan as part of the Australian Raptors Rugby Academy’s under-14 girls’ squad back in January, while for Emily, it was her first time travelling overseas.

Both girls relished playing rugby in a brand new environment in front of a large crowd, and they both enjoyed the company of their Nomads teammates and the coaching staff.

For Emily, the trip was the first of what she hopes will be many as the talented 15-year-old eyes off a spot on the Australian team for the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games.

“I enjoyed it so much. It really was such a great experience,” Emily told The Courier.

“I liked how welcoming and kind everyone was. Even the girls we played against were all so nice.

“At the start, our team didn’t really gel as a team the best because we hadn’t ever really played with each other, but at the end, we were all really close and we worked so well in our final game. We played as a great team.

“Winning the grand final like that was thrilling. It was so amazing and a bit unbelievable to think that we came all the way from here and won the entire tournament.

“There was a great atmosphere over there.

“My big goal in rugby is to make to Australian team at the Brisbane Olympics in 2032. Being at Cook Islands, being in a different country and seeing other girls from different countries that love rugby just as much as I do, has just inspired me so much to keep playing rugby and going on international tours.”

For Ruby, the trip was a memorable one that has helped develop her knowledge of the game.

“It’s one of the best experiences I have been a part of,” Ruby told The Courier.

“This is probably one of the best teams I have been on. There were no groups or anything like that. Everyone bonded so well together and everyone played amazing.

“Me as a player, I think I went quite well and contributed a lot to the team.

“I think my knowledge has expanded a lot this year from going on the two tours. I couldn’t have done it without my coaches or my parents or my grandparents.

“I feel absolutely blessed to have had these opportunities. I’m a very lucky girl to experience all this stuff which few people get to.

“My main goal in rugby is to end up in the big leagues, but overall, I kind of want to be able to help grow rugby, especially women’s rugby, and I want to help people who don’t have as much confidence as when I first started playing.”

Both Narrabri girls were intrigued by the Cook Islands culture during their time abroad.

“I really liked experiencing the culture. It was so different to anywhere I’ve been in Australia, and it was so unique,” Ruby said.

“Everywhere you went, everyone was so lovely and it was so amazing.”

“Where we stayed, all the staff and everyone there were really friendly,” Emily added.

“They taught us how to say a few words in their language, and that was pretty cool.”

For the two Narrabri girls, it was a great chance to play alongside one another once again.

Emily joined the junior Blue Boars at just eight years of age back in 2019, and Ruby became a junior Blue Boar in 2022. They only played one season together at the Blue Boars before Emily switched to the New England Girls School club in Armidale, where she attends school.

They also played alongside one another at the NSW Waratahs Academy for two seasons, and they enjoyed the opportunity to team up again in a new country.