Kiara Meredith-Brown feared a trip to England would stall her rugby career, just like it did to her father 22 years ago. But luckily for her, George Gregan's not playing any more.
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Meredith-Brown will make her University of Canberra sevens debut in Brisbane on Saturday after a whirlwind year, which also saw her become the first father-child link in ACT Brumbies history.
She followed dad Paul Brown into the Brumbies ranks when the Super W was launched this year, making them both foundation players for the club's men's and women's teams.
Paul Brown was a Canberra Kookaburras captain and was part of the inaugural Brumbies squad in 1996. But Gregan, a future World Cup winner and Wallabies skipper, had jumped ahead when Brown returned from a six-month working stint at the Old Trafford cricket ground in Manchester.
Meredith-Brown's rugby days have followed a similar trajectory. She started playing when she was six, but was told she could no longer play against boys when she turned 12.
She made a rugby comeback five years later and won a spot in the Brumbies squad this year but then took a 10-week break in England before the start of the national sevens series.
"I thought I wouldn't really get a shot at the sevens because I was away for the majority of the preparation period," Meredith-Brown said.
"But [coach Dave Grimmond] has been really supportive and our strength and conditioning staff gave me plenty of work to do while I was overseas.
"Sticking it out has definitely paid off and I'm really excited to get a chance this weekend.
"Dad has a big soft spot for me, but he's also my harshest critic. He's always on the sideline giving tips, so I think my game understanding comes from him.
"He's always so supportive and I know he's really proud of me, that's the most important thing."
Meredith-Brown and Darcy Read are the two additions to the Canberra side as it aims to play for the major prize at the third round of the national competition.
Canberra is fourth on the overall table after finishing fifth in the first two series, but the players are yet to taste big-game action in the final-four shootout.
Australian sevens representative Yasmin Meakes is unavailable after joining the national team for a tournament in Japan, opening the door for playmaker Meredith-Brown to get her opportunity.
The 21-year-old Royals player spent time playing hockey, volleyball and OzTag in between her rugby stints and is now hoping to make her mark on the sevens circuit.
"The standard of the games will be a lot harder than what I've experienced at the sevens nationals," Meredith-Brown said.
"The competition will get stronger and strong and the standard will be hard. I'm looking forward to playing in it and testing myself."
UNIVERSITY SEVENS SERIES
Saturday: University of Canberra v Bond University at 9.20am, University of Canberra v Macquarie University at 11am, University of Canberra v University of Adelaide at 1pm.
Sunday: University of Canberra v University of Sydney at 9.20am. Finals to follow. All games the University of Queensland.
Canberra squad: Kasey Dragisic, Ngawai Eyles, Jane Garraway, Abby Gustaitis, Michaela Leonard, Paremo Marsh, Kiara Meredith-Brown, Claudia Obst, Georgia O’Neill, Darcy Read, Tayla Stanford, Sammie Wood.
