Central North Rugby: Shae Partridge relishes first season of rugby

Before last season the Walcha teenager had never really watched a game of rugby union let alone played one.

But she "loved it" so much that at the end of last season she told Pirates coach Anthony Barbara she "couldn't wait" for next season.

"The club was so welcoming and they're lovely girls," Partridge said.

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At Gunnedah on Saturday she will continue her rugby education when Pirates tackle the table-topping Red Devils.

They have so far just played the two games (one round), picking up a pair of wins over Narrabri.

Partridge's involvement with Pirates came about when the local league tag side (Jillaroos), who she had played with for the previous two-and-a-half seasons, couldn't get a side together.

Facing the prospect of no footy, when the opportunity to have a run in the rugby 7's came up, she thought she'd have a crack.

"I still wanted to play footy because I've always played a lot of sport," the 19-year old said.

Also coming back from a serious knee injury after rupturing her ACL and tearing her meniscus playing league tag, Partridge said it probably took her the season to really feel comfortable.

"This year I've started to feel a lot more confident," she said.

She said the contact side was probably the biggest adjustment.

"Tackling was my biggest fear," she said.

"The running and sprinting that was easy."

She did a lot of athletics growing up. She is also a talent horsewoman, and plays touch football and indoor hockey.

Away from the field, Partridge's life is equally busy.

She works at the local supermarket, at the Commercial Hotel and on a local sheep stud and also helps out on her families' properties.

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