An inconsolably happy team, smiles from ear to ear, a few tears (of overwhelming joy) and Charlotte Caslick singing “If you’re happy and you know it clap your hands” on repeat to anyone and everyone is what flashes through my head when I think of the Sydney Sevens 2018.

What a phenomenal HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series leg it was with the Australian men’s and women’s teams both winning gold! To be able to do this on home soil, with our friends and family there watching, was so very, very special and a memory I think all of us will carry forever.

And without even realising it at the time, we had made history becoming the first ever team to complete a series tournament conceding zero tries. Our hard work and all that extra conditioning definitely paid off!

Now we just have to build on this momentum and take it to another level for the Commonwealth Games … which at the time of Sydney was 11 weeks away.

This was a little too long to go without playing, especially coming off the back of such a successful tournament. We sent a development team to Okinawa in Japan but still needed some more game time for the whole squad.

Pain is temporary, glory is forever

We are lucky enough to have the Australian Rugby Foundation who generously donated money that enabled the team to travel to Las Vegas for some trial games. So, at the beginning of March, we travelled to America and played five trial games against the USA alongside the men’s series round in Las Vegas.

Thank goodness for this because if we weren’t playing games we most definitely would have had to have another mini pre-season … and I know we would all prefer to play games!

We still had to ramp up the training to be even better for the Commonwealth Games. We did a prowler session on a Friday afternoon at the end of a pretty big week of training and at the end I collapsed to the ground and cried for a good five minutes. By the end of it I forgot why I was even crying, I was just so exhausted. I know that probably sounds a little dramatic, and I am a slightly dramatic human being, but in reality it was so physically and emotionally exhausting and we were pushing ourselves as hard as we could.

However, as the saying goes “pain is temporary, glory is forever” and you can be bloody sure we are after a second victory on home soil this year at the Commonwealth Games.

Another extremely special moment that made all the hard work worth it was when the team was announced. We had what we thought was a normal team dinner and then as we were walking in, all our families walked out. I hadn’t seen my family in a little while so I was beyond excited and a little bit emotional at this stage.

After a beautiful dinner, our coach Tim Walsh named the team and as each of our names were called out we received our Aussie kit – which in itself is super exciting – and a yellow balloon with a little good luck message from Walshy in it.

Having my mum and sister there for this extremely special occasion meant so much to me as they have played a massive role in getting me to this point. Going home that night I was on a high, I just wanted to run straight on to the field.

Proud to be Australian

Fast forward a couple of weeks and I took my first steps inside the Athletes’ Village. It is amazing. The food, the rooms, the atmosphere. Everything is on point. There’s even a smoothie stand and ice-cream bar ... for when competition finishes of course!

The atmosphere among everyone is incredible. I’m very lucky to be in a team sport where we are always cheering for, encouraging and supporting each other through the highs and lows, but being a part of a larger Team Australia where everyone is from a range of different sports and backgrounds and are all supporting each other, is very special and unique.

I have been fortunate enough to be involved in several multi-sport events through the Youth Olympic Games, Youth Commonwealth Games, the Pacific Games and Olympic Games.

When you pull on the jersey you’re not just representing Australian rugby but a whole Australian team and that is very exciting and such a honour. Walking out into the stadium for the Opening Ceremony alongside such inspiring and phenomenal athletes that really became apparent. Hearing the roar of support from the crowd made me so proud to be Australian and so honoured to be able to wear the green blazer with the coat of arms on my chest.

The Games also gives us another opportunity to make history with this year being the first time that women’s rugby sevens has been included. And to top it off this will also be the last tournament we play under Tim Walsh as head coach.

A home tournament with friends and family, the Commonwealth Games and the final tournament under Walshy’s guidance, this is going to be a big one and we are more than ready for it.

Celebrity fan in attendance?

In saying all of this, when we step on to the field on Friday nothing changes. It is still the exact same size field with the same number of players on the field. When the final whistle goes, it will just be extra special being able to share the result with our friends and families. Also, on a side note, I have seen Chris Hemsworth attend a few events recently so maybe he too will be at the sevens to share the results with us! 

While our focus is all on the Commonwealth Games for now (and not Chris Hemsworth!), the week after we have our third World Series stop for the year in Kitakyushu, Japan.

We don’t often get the chance to play back-to-back tournaments like the men, so it will be a test of the five Commonwealth teams’ fitness and ability to back it up and play just six days after competing.

If you have ever played a sevens tournament you will understand that it takes a couple of days for your body to actually recover and feel ‘normal’ again ... or maybe that’s just me being a bit soft and dramatic? If you haven’t before I encourage you to play a tournament and see for yourself.

Despite the sore bodies, I know I am really excited to be able to play twice in two weeks and hopefully keep building on the momentum we have had in the series so far. I think all the girls would agree when I say we cannot wait to get out there and make the most of this opportunity to represent our country and do Australia proud.

As England footballer Jermain Defoe once said “Going to a major tournament, having that buzz – it’s hard to put into words. It’s a dream to go there and to play. It’s the biggest thing you can achieve in your career”.

The first Commonwealth Games women's sevens competition gets underway at 16:31 local time (GMT+10) on Friday at Robina Stadium with Australia to face Wales, England and Fiji in Pool B. View the fixtures here