ASAKO Ono begged her parents for the chance to leave Tokyo at 16 to find her destiny in rugby and education in Queensland.
At 27, being part of the inaugural Super W season has shown her just how much women’s rugby has grown and how far she has come.
“My dad is a schoolteacher and he asked ‘why?’ to start with but rugby has literally taught me life, language and a new culture,” the University of Queensland graduate said.
She teaches at Ipswich State High after doing an intern stint as a strength-and-conditioning coach at the Reds in 2013-14.
The experienced halfback has been called into the Queensland women’s team for Saturday’s clash against the Brumbies in Canberra as one of five changes to the team beaten 18-0 by NSW.
Coach Michael Hayes has picked five backrowers to add mobility to the team with the selection of Ivy Kaleta at flanker and captain Kirby Sefo moving to lock.
Hayes called in his former mentor Alex Evans, the godfather of coaching in Queensland, to sharpen the pack midweek.
“I think the girls came out a bit inspired with his freshness and honesty but without the fear instilled by Alex in the old days I recall,” Hayes said.
Pacy Alysia Lefau-Fakaosilea has been switched from wing to outside centre in the hope she can be better used in attack after being wasted against NSW.
