Walker was one of four country players chosen for the side after competing in the Nicole Beck Cup on November 7 in Coffs Harbour.

Her mother, Angela, said Walker played Junior Rugby Union in Moree until she turned 12, but two years ago she completed a development day in Tamworth where a talent scout showed interest.

“He said she had the ability to go all the way, now Rugby Union has been included in the Olympics, if she kept up her fitness and skills. Unfortunately, she ruptured her ACL 18 months ago and had to undergo surgery,” Walker said.

It took around 12 months for her to be able to run properly, and from there Walker gradually started playing Ladies League Tag and touch football again.

“In May I spoke to the development officer from Tamworth to see how she could get back into playing Rugby Union because Moree didn’t have many options and he suggested we join Warialda’s High School team,” she said.

After playing in different school carnivals with Warialda, including the NSW All-Schools Carnival, Walker and a few of her Warialda team mates were chosen to represent Central North at the Gold Coast. 

The two-day tournament saw Walker’s team place second to the ‘Tribe 7s’ 12-7, which led to her playing again in Coffs Harbour where she was scouted for the NSW side.

“Next Thursday Ash will travel to Narrabeen for the NSW sides first training run as a group. Then on the Friday and over the weekend they will play at Wagga for the national sevens competition,” Walker said.

There will be two NSW and QLD sides along with a side from the rest of the state in the competition.

“So Ash will be chosen for either the NSW blue or white side, in the past the blue side has been known to be the number one team, but we will just have to wait and see,” she said.

Walker believes the weekend will be run as a round-robin style competition with most games played on Saturday with the finals on Sunday.

“Ash has been working really hard and following a program devised for her. We’ve been doing a lot of fitness and strength training here and she’s been travelling to Warialda every now and then to play with the school side.

“It’s incredible to have seen her progression since May.”