Rugby Union: World Series opener selection reward for hard work for Rhiannon Byers

Fast forward three years and the former Inverell Highlander is on a trajectory that could see her chasing gold in Tokyo next year.

The 20-year old is currently in Colorado preparing for the opening round of the 2019-2020 HSBC Sevens World Series. It will be her second tournament after making her debut in the final leg of last year's series and helping the Aussies secure a chance to defend their Olympic crown.

Byers was on that glorious August day back in 2016 heading down to Sydney with her Warialda High team-mates for a Combined High Schools state final.

"We had to pull over in Manilla to watch it because we were going to run out of service," she recalled.

It is something she jokes around with her team-mates about, but illustrates how much Byer's life has changed. Who were heroes to her three years ago, she now calls team-mates.

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"To watch those girls win the gold and now be training with the girls to win the Olympics next year, it's made it more real than ever," she said.

There is a lot of rugby to be played before now and Tokyo though with this year's series expanded from six to eight rounds. Making the squad for the US tournament is a good first step.

"I was very happy because I've been putting a lot of hard work in in pre-season training and taking the advice from the coaches and staff on board and working on it and I'm just glad that the coaches can see the advice they've given me and training that they've given me I've taken it on board," Byers said.

Still only new in the program, the crux of that advice has been to believe in herself, and her abilities.

"That I am here for a reason and that my athleticism is a key and if I start believing in myself I'll be pretty unstoppable," she said.

After moving away from home, and all that she knows, she admits that has been nice to hear.

She still does have to pinch herself sometimes after what can only be described as a whirlwind last 10 months.

After signing a development contract in January, she was then offered a full time contract and in June found herself winging her way to France for the series finale.

"I'd pretty much fan-girled over the Aussie girls when I was younger, so to be running on the field with them and wear the Australian jersey, it was this dream that I didn't think would ever come true," she said.

Now it has, she said she knows "this is is 100 per cent what I want to do".

She took a lot of learnings away from the Biarritz tournament and goes into this weekend with a better understanding of what to expect from the World Series, and a lot fewer nerves.

"It's going to be great experience with the first leg," she said.

Interestingly it won't be her first sporting tourney to the US. A few years back she was part of a Sports Travel Australia track and field tour to LA. Competing in 100m, 200m, shot put and hammer throw at various competitions, Byers' brought home a few gold medals.

She's hoping this trip yields the same.

The Aussies have been drawn in Pool C alongside Spain, Fiji and Canada and open their campaign against Spain on Sunday.