The ACT women's team will put all of its energy into chasing a breakthrough national title before switching formats for a competition the players hope will ignite rugby for females in Australia.
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Olympic Games gold medal-winning captain Sharni Williams and Australian sevens player Brooke Anderson were unveiled on Wednesday as marquee signings for the University of Canberra's new rugby team.
The side will play in the Australian university sevens series in August, giving female players a chance to mirror the success of the women's AFL.
Williams encouraged athletes from other sports to test themselves in sevens and hopes it will be the catalyst for bulging player numbers in rugby.
"It's huge for our game and hats off to the ARU and to the universities," Williams said.
"We can build the fan base and we can build the player base with this and it gives people a way to showcase what our game is about rather than just doing it once at the Sydney sevens. I just hope everyone jumps on board."
The sevens announcement coincides with the start of the women's 15-a-side national championships, which start on the Gold Coast on Friday.
The ACT is chasing a title and will start its campaign against Victoria before pool B games against NSW Country and Queensland at the three-day tournament.
It's fitting the Brumbies have dubbed their Super Rugby clash against the Johannesburg Lions "ladies round" because a host of women are pushing their case for World Cup selection in the Wallaroos squad.
They also have one eye on a spot in the University of Canberra sevens side and want to ride the wave after the Australian team won a historic gold medal at the Rio Olympic Games last year.
The inaugural AFL women's season, a new netball competition and historic pay deals for female cricketers have paved the way for a new generation of female athletes.
ACT winger Talei Wilson said: "I got back into rugby four years ago and I'm ready to show what I've got.
"My sister told me I should go and play again after I stopped, so I'm glad she kicked my butt back into the game.
"I'm really excited for the sevens competition ... there are more comps in Canberra so it's really good for women's rugby."
Shellie Millward will lead the ACT side with Wallaroos veteran Louise Burrows to start at hooker while flanker Ema Masi will play against her former Queensland teammates.
"It will be interesting. Most of the girls I played with are still in the team," Masi said.
"We definitely think this is our year to take it out, we're focusing on what we need to do so it will be good in and have a crack."
WOMEN'S NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Friday: ACT v Victoria at 11.30am; ACT v NSW Country at 3pm.
Saturday: ACT v Queensland at 2pm. Finals on Sunday.
ACT women's side: 1. Violeta Tupuola, 2. Louise Burrows, 3. Anna Korovata, 4. Millie Boyle, 5. Shellie Millward, 6. Kate Brown, 7. Ema Masi, 8. Irene MacArthur, 9. Sarah Carter, 10. Yasmin Meakes, 11. Talei Wilson, 12. Cecilia Smith, 13. Tayla Stanford, 14. Michelle Perry, 15. Kasey Dragisic. Reserves: 16. Skeda Marsh, 17. Yolanda Maiava, 18. Lauretta Leo-Seve, 19. Britney Bedford, 20. Sepa Salesa, 21. Ash Kara, 22. Courtney Livermore, 23. Darcy Read, 24. Harriet Elleman.
WOMEN'S UNIVERSITY SEVENS SERIES
Round one: University of Tasmania Stadium, Launceston, August 25-26
Round two: Macquarie University, Sydney, September 9-10
Round three: University of Queensland, Brisbane, September 16-17
Round four: Bond University, Gold Coast, September 29-30
AUSTRALIAN PLAYER ALLOCATIONS
University of Canberra: Sharni Williams and Brooke Anderson
University of New England: Alicia Quirk and Hannah Southwell
Macquarie University: Dominique Du Toit and Chloe Dalton
University of Tasmania: Ellia Green, Georgie Friedrichs and Shanice Parker
University of Adelaide: Emma Tonegato, Evania Pelite and Mahalia Murphy
Griffith University: Shannon Parry and Demi Hayes
Bond University: Charlotte Caslick and Brooke Walker
University of Queensland: Emilee Cherry and Emma Sykes
