Former Wallaroos winger Kristy Giteau is training three times a week with her brother and Wallabies centurion, Matt Giteau, in preparation for her first touch football World Cup in April.
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Giteau transitioned from rugby union to touch three years ago and is set to continue her international career in the over-35 women's team at the tournament in Kuala Lumpur.
The 38-year-old mother has three kids under the age of six, including a three-month-old son, while her husband is Queanbeyan Whites star flanker Soakai Tai.
Giteau may be at the back end of her sporting career but said she still loves training as her competitive spirit still burns within and she wants to come home with the World Cup.
"The good thing about touch is Australia has maintained the No. 1 ranking in most teams which is very different to union, with New Zealand having that title for quite some time," Giteau said.
"It's nice to beat Kiwis in at least one sport and hopefully we can continue that over there because I want to win the World Cup.
"Coming from a competitive family with three brothers and plenty of cousins, we were always playing games and there was always champions and always tears, that was the environment we grew up in.
"Matt is back here in Canberra between his seasons in Japan, and he’s been one of my training buddies. We catch up two or three times a week and try to beat each other. We head out to Griffith Oval where Easts train and run around, he's been a great motivator for me."
Giteau admits her surname sometimes meant she had a target on her back while playing rugby, but said it mostly goes unnoticed in touch.
"A lot of girls have transitioned from union to touch but only a few make the association," Giteau said.
"It's a completely different sport and not a lot of touch people really follow union, so I don't think they make the link and I like they don't because then you go unknown are judged based on your ability."
Giteau is one of 10 Canberra players selected in Australian teams for the tournament, including former Queanbeyan Gift winner Sophie Broadhead.
ACT players in Australian squads at Touch World Cup April 28 - May 4: Kristy Giteau (35s), Sophie Broadhead (27s), Kim Grant (27s), Grace Griffin (27s), Nikki Stanley (27s), Danny Goodwin (27s), Rachel McVicar (30s), Erin Sutcliffe (W35), Dean Taylor (40s), John Samin (50s).
