Former Australia touch football star Kylie Hilder will captain-coach the Forster Hawks, and hopes non-contact League Tag will be embraced by female fans.

“It’s about getting the women involved, and doing more than running the canteen,” she said.

“This comp offers them the chance to play, coach, get involved in first aid and plenty of important roles.”

Hilder, 32, was part of the national team at 16. Her 15-year Test career included World Cup wins at Japan 2003 and South Africa 2007. Now working as a development officer, she says local schools are untapped reservoirs of female rugby league talent.

“I’ve run tackle comps at high schools in the area, and the girls are keen as mustard for that,” she said.

“I know myself that growing up I would’ve loved to play rugby league, but the tackling part worried me. This is a game that removes that worry.”

League Tag is OzTag, tweaked here and there. The latter is patented by NRL referee-turned-used-car-salesman Bill Harrigan, and referred to as You-Know-What Tag by litigation-fearing officials.

The main difference is you can kick the ball whenever you want; OzTag only allows kicking on the last tackle, and only along the ground.

“In League Tag you can kick as high as you want, whenever you want,” Hilder said.

“And there are 11 players a side instead of 13. Apart from that, it’s as close to rugby league rules as you can get.”

The local league, for players 14 and older, is expected to be evenly sprinkled with talent.

“I’ve been coaching a Taree under 18 girls’ touch team, and I know a lot of those players will be in some of the teams,” Hilder said.

“I think it’ll be an even comp. It won’t be too one-sided.”

The Hawks’ first League Tag practice session on February 1 will finish with a barbecue at south One Mile Beach in Forster, and is open to all interested players.

For more information, call Kylie Hilder on 0400 345 519.