Leah Opie will suit up for Australia in the mixed touch football team on May 12, when they take on a New Zealand team hungry for the Trans Tasman Series title.
This will be the 26-year-old’s third call-up, and with the addition of a few new men who will “add a bit more flair to the team”, Opie is confident Australia will take the title.
“We have had a good lead-in training campaign,” the Glenbrook resident said.
“It’s a good vibe [among the players]. We have a lot of fun together.”
The team have been coming together for long weekend training camps in Sydney, and Opie, a PE teacher at Blue Mountains Grammar School, has been preparing by doing some form of exercise most days, with a focus on touch skills and agility.
And when the winger hits the Sunshine Coast fields later this month, she’ll be focused on improving her performance, with the goal of making the team for the Touch Football World Cup in 2019 in Malaysia.
“I’ll be focused on playing better and building every game,” Opie said.
“I want to be strong in the ruck, agility and communication.”
Opie has played touch football for 15 years, enjoying the competition and the sport’s social nature.
“All my really good friends I met through touch. It’s a very social sport with great camaraderie.”
