Ngawai Eyles has watched more rugby games than she's played, but some one-on-one tutelage from her ACT Brumbies partner helped convince her to make a cross-sporting switch.
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Eyles made her University of Canberra sevens debut in the opening round of the national competition in Hobart on Saturday, winning the opening match but then falling in the next two pool games.
Canberra Giants netballer Eyles decided to test herself in rugby this season after a schedule gap gave her the opportunity to link with the Canberra side.
To get her ready to play, Brumbies flyhalf Wharenui Hawera has been peppering her with high balls and training drills at the club's headquarters at the university.
Eyles is one of several players in the Canberra side making the transition to sevens this year as the national university competition enters its second season.
"I've played touch footy in the netball off-season. I dabbled in a bit of rugby sevens four or five years ago because all of my friends were playing, but that was it," Eyles said.
"I've never been in a proper team environment, so this is the first time I'm committing to a team environment.
"Netball is my number one sport but our off-season training was by playing touch. The Canberra Giants season finished about six weeks ago and one of the girls was coming, so I wanted to give it a go, too.
"Once I got my head in for the first time, it was good. I'm itching for more now. [Hawera's] been trying to teach me how to catch high balls, tackling and the stepping stuff, so it's been good."
Canberra beat the University of new England 24-19 in their season-opener, with Paremo Marsh scoring a try in the final minute to get the campaign off to a perfect start.
They ran out of steam in the second pool match and were beaten 30-0 by Griffith University, and then finished off the first day with a loss against Bond University 22-10.
Coach Dave Grimmond has been trying to blend his side together with players coming from different sporting backgrounds to have a crack at sevens.
United States import Abby Gustaitis has returned for a second season, Yasmin Meakes is back after her form led to an Australian call-up last year and Australian captain Sharni Williams could be available for round two.
"It was pleasant to come away with a win in that first game ... we got the shakes out of us pretty quickly," Grimmond said.
"We've got enough experience now, some girls are in their second year. But it's a cruel sport. You've got to be on your game or you'll lose in the last minute. But the first win was good for our confidence."
AT A GLANCE
Saturday: University of Canberra 24 bt University of New England 19; Griffith University 30 bt University of Canberra 0; Bond University 22 bt University of Canberra 10.
