Wallaroos squad member Ashleigh Walker reckons an extra 12 months could be a blessing in disguise as she aims to make her maiden appearance at the women's rugby union World Cup.
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The Moree product, who represented the Melbourne Rebels and Hunter Wildfires last season, will attend her second Aussie training camp in Canberra next week after Wednesday's announcement recommending that this year's international tournament be postponed until 2022.
The 22-year-old feels "upset" about the delay from a team perspective, but reckons individually she now has "more of a chance" to make the final group.
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"When it [World Cup] was this year I was like 'it's probably a bit soon for just joining the squad' and being able to make it I thought was a bit out of reach," Walker told the Newcastle Herald.
"But if it's next year than I think I have more of a chance of getting into that squad. Just to grow a little bit and get comfortable and all that."
Walker was approached by Wallaroos coach Dwayne Nestor at the end of a debut Super W campaign in 2020, inviting her to join an extended training squad at the Australian Institute of Sport in December.
She "wasn't really expecting it" but got listed alongside Nelson Bay's Maya Stewart and Macquarie Hills' Layne Morgan.
Walker now heads back to the nation's capital, however, the final group has yet to be officially released.
She feels encouraged to have a second crack with the Wallaroos after a rollercoaster ride the first time around.
"It was a weird experience with some ups and downs that's for sure," Walker said.
"Coming out of it I felt more confident and then getting invited to this one obviously something good is happening."
Walker, who has returned to work at Tomago Aluminum, remains unclear where she will play Super W in 2021 and when the competition is set to take place.
"I'm not sure what I'm doing at the moment in terms of Super W. If COVID-19 didn't happen I'd still be down in Melbourne playing for them, but I have to have that conversation in [Wallaroos] camp and figure out what I want to do there," she said.
The NSW Waratahs, who have collected all three Super W titles, are based out of Sydney where Walker trains weekly with the state's Aussie players.
She is also eyeing off another Jack Scott Cup campaign with the Wildfires.
In the meantime Walker is part of the Newcastle University squad preparing for the National Sevens Series.
Her preferred position is flanker, but she has also played centres and halfback.
Reigning champions New Zealand were set to host the World Cup from September 18 to October 16. The World Rugby executive committee are due to meet next week after Rugby Australia supported the notion to postpone the 2021 tournament because of the "challenging global COVID-19 landscape".
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