KATE Holland played her first game of 15-a-side rugby for the Hunter Wildfires against a Wallaroos-laden Sydney University three months ago.
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Now with 11 games under her belt, Holland will pack down alongside Wallaroos captain Grace Hamilton and a host of other internationals as NSW Country strive to win the Chikarovski Cup for the first time in Bathurst this weekend.
It has been a meteoric rise for 29-year-old Medowie school teacher, who was captain and centre half-back for the Hunter-Central Coast Australian rules representative side this time last year.
"My first game of 15s was against Sydney Uni and they had seven Wallaroos players in their side that day," Holland said. "I'm in a position now where I'm not just playing against Australian players but alongside them. It has been a whirlwind of a season and I am so grateful to be in the position I am in."
Holland made her NSW Country debut at lock in the 24-15 win over Sydney Blue at Forshaw Rugby Park last Sunday.
"That was incredible," she said. "Having Grace Hamilton pack in behind me as the No.8 was pretty cool. It definitely made you lift to that next level."
NSW Country meet Canberra on Saturday and then tackle Sydney Gold in a clash likely to determine the champions.
They will be without Newcastle breakaway Leilani Nathan after scans confirmed she had torn the anterior cruciate ligament in her knee in the win over Sydney Blue.
Holland has played sevens for Nelson Bay for the past three years as well as Aussie rules and was convinced to give 15s a try by Newcastle manager Will Scully.
"I love 15s and wish I had a crack at it when I was a bit younger," she said. "I'm a type of person who loves learning new things. I found 15s a lot more technical.
"I feel like I have been chucked in the position that nobody wants. I am trying to get in the mindset where I have to get comfortable with being uncomfortable.
"There is still a lot to learn about the in and outs - when to counter ruck, when to stay out. Playing centre half-back in Aussie rules prepared me for working hard. Get in there and get it done. I'm also comfortable with being in the air. I find that I lift more than I jump just because of the dynamics in our team."
Holland comes from a rugby family. Older brother Brett represented NSW Country under-19s and sister Michelle also played for the Bay.
"I remember travelling up to Queensland to watch Brett play for Country and thinking 'this is pretty cool',"Holland said. "I never thought that I'd be throwing on an orange jersey 15 years later."
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