ACT Brumbies rookie Brooke Gilroy used to deal with nerves by keeping her head under water, but the former swimmer is ready to jump into a different deep end when she makes her Super W debut.
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Gilroy has been picked to play for the Brumbies in their season-opener against defending champions NSW at Canberra Stadium on Saturday night.
The teenager will also have her face plastered on the side of a bus alongside David Pocock in the coming weeks as the faces of rugby in Canberra.
But less than a year ago Gilroy was sitting in the stands watching the inaugural women's season simply wondering if she would get a chance to pursue her rugby dreams.
Gilroy has been swimming since she was five and represented Canberra at the national championships in the 50 metre freestyle and the relay.
Her parents told her she couldn't play rugby until she became stronger and faster, but finally she's ready to make her debut and she's bursting with excitement.
"I've wanted to [play] rugby ever since I was little. I did competitive swimming and that was my main sport, but I always asked my parents if I could play [rugby]," Gilroy said.
"My school finally put a team in I told them I was playing and from the first game I knew I loved it.
"Mum and dad love watching the games now. I'm very excited. I used to watch the men's teams, but I loved watching the women at [Canberra Stadium] last year.
"To play has come a lot sooner than I thought. I didn't know if I should trial this year, but I thought I should give it a crack and now I want to really do well.
"This will be my first proper time on Canberra Stadium. I'm very nervous because I know there will be a crowd, but they're good nerves."
The Brumbies have a $5 ticket offer for fans in the hope of enticing them to the ground early to watch the Super W clash and stay for the Super Rugby battle against the Waikato Chiefs.
Gilroy will add an injection of new blood alongside flyhalf Carly Hill, fellow winger Ngawai Eyles and coach Adam Butt.
The NSW side won the inaugural Super W title last season and ignited an interstate rivalry with the Brumbies in a fiery trial match earlier this month.
The Brumbies have a much-hyped hatred for the Waratahs in Super Rugby stemming from the little brother syndrome in Canberra.
Butt says that feeling is even stronger for the women and the Brumbies are keen to make their mark by knocking off the competition favourites in round one.
"Our plan is to get in their face," Butt said. "We want to make it hard for them to play their game, but also set ourselves up to play our game.
"I think [the ACT-NSW rivalry] is on par [with the men's], maybe even a little bit more. They give it to each other verbally and physically. There'll be no one stepping back this week. It got heated in the trial and I expect it to be heated again."
Wallaroos veteran Louise Burrows will start at hooker with Australian players Shellie Milward and Georgia O'Neill adding X-factor to the forward back.
Former Canberra Giants netballer Eyles will be playing her first Super W game after switching to rugby sevens at the end of last year.
SUPER W ROUND ONE
Saturday: ACT Brumbies v NSW at Canberra Stadium, 5pm. Tickets available from Ticketek.
Brumbies: 1. Anna Koravata, 2. Louise Burrows, 3. Peta Cox, 4. Emily Sogal, 5. Shellie Milward, 6. Michaela Leonard, 7. Georgia O'Neill, 8. Tayla Stanford, 9. Jane Garraway, 10. Carly Hill, 11. Brooke Gilroy, 12. Sammie Wood, 13. Michelle Perry, 14. Ngawai Eyles, 15. Rachael Crothers. Reserves: 16. Harriet Elleman, 17. Stefanie Stewart-Jones, 18. Violeta Tupuola, 19. Grace Kemp, 20. Sharyn Laws, 21. Irene Macarthur, 22. Remi Wilton, 23. Claudia Obst.
