"We're trying to grow it in the Samoan culture, but back when my mum was growing up rugby wasn't a sport for females to play, she still had that stigma," Ana added. "There was a lot of resistance at first but she's come around." The Sio girls played basketball instead, and made state level before looking for a new challenge while they were at university. They did not have to look far. Loading "The big thing was watching Scott's success, and also looking at the women's sevens kicking off, big profiles like Ellia Green and people like Charlotte Caslick really making an impact, made me want to play the sport. "In school we had the stigma of girls playing a very manly sport like rugby. And even though it was in my family I didn't feel like I wanted to play a full-contact sport in high school. It took until leaving university to make me feel like I wanted to play a sport like rugby."

Father David, who was a loosehead prop in the famous Manu Samoa side that stormed the 1991 World Cup, directed them to Parramatta, where they were schooled by highly rated coach Moala Polota-Nau, another woman from a decent rugby family. Scott Sio's twin sisters will play for the Waratahs in the inaugural Super W competition this year. Three seasons with the Two Blues has put them in the box seat for selection for next Saturday's Super Rugby double header, when the Waratahs and Reds women go head to head at 4pm (AEST) at Suncorp Stadium before the Reds host the Bulls in the prime-time slot. The NSW women will play their first home game a week later, in another double header before the Waratahs host the Blues at Allianz Stadium. You can expect the whole family to be there in the stands, just as Tina and Ana are there to support Scott and brother Patrick, a loose forward who recently returned from a season with Stade Francais. Loading

The sisters revealed Brumbies prop Scott, who is sidelined with a calf injury, delighted in putting his younger sisters through their paces. "He treats us like his little proteges, or experiments to work on; 'How can I fix this' and 'what technique can I teach you now'. He takes full credit for any success we have," said Ana. "It's been a big bonding factor with Scott, he loves coming back home and taking us to the park or the gym. He's very supportive and so is Patrick." Mama Sio is too now, despite her early reservations. The experience was illuminating for Ana and Tina, who now see it as their duty to help change perceptions within their community. "As Pacific Islander women we need to set a platform within our own community to say that more islander women should be getting involved, whether it's rugby union, rugby league or AFL," Ana said.

"Islander parents should be more supportive because we are so rich in talent in our culture and our people, so it would be great to see more role models in sport who are Pacific Islander women." Tina Sio said she also wanted to help take the pressure off families, who were often spread thin enough just giving their sons the opportunities in sport they deserved. "We have such big families as well it's hard to be there for every child, so they [girls] can really struggle for parental support sometimes," she said. Loading "But if they have people like us to look up to we can sometimes be there for those children who don't have anyone. That's why we want to do this, that's what the motivation is, to give back."