Determination is the key for sevens star, Nicole Beck

The knowledge that she wasn’t done yet, plus the lure of the Olympic dream, were all Nicole Beck needed to fight for her place in the Australian rugby sevens team.

In some respects, it’s been a long road to the top for Beck.

By today’s standards, some might say she started her international rugby career late at the age of 20, but she still managed to pack a lot into those first few years playing Tests for the Wallaroos in the XV’s competition and going on to be the youngest member of the triumphant Australian team at the inaugural Rugby Sevens World Cup in 2009.

Returning to the Wallaroos, she played in the 2010 World Cup before being sidelined with a serious ankle injury in 2011.

It was to be a harder and longer recovery period than she’d expected as she fell pregnant during her rehabilitation from ankle surgery and, following the difficult birth of Sophie, had a long road back to full fitness.

By the time she was ready and able to get back into rugby sevens she’d been on the sidelines for close to two years and there was a new system, a new coach and pretty much a new team.

The ARU transformed its rugby sevens program into a fully professionalised system in January 2014, deciding to contract players and base them at the Sydney Academy of Sport in Narrabeen just north of the capital city.

Nicole was now faced with the task of returning to the fray of full-time competitive sport as an athlete whose body had been through some testing times.

There had been a momentous shift in Nicole’s life, including the birth of her daughter, but she was determined she was not finished with sport.

“When I had Sophie, I knew I wasn’t done with sport,” Nicole says.

“I love sport. And I guess the opportunity to do what you love as your job as well, was a really a big motivator. There was definitely a big fight to get my spot and earn my spot and right up to the last period of finalising the contracts I was trying to prove that I was a worthy participant, a worthy player to have.”

Women’s coach Tim Walsh says this determination is what shines through in Nicole’s performance on the field and in training.

“If you’re good enough and show the qualities that are required in sevens then you’ll be selected,” Walsh says.

“There’s no doubt Nicole has those; she’s had a few setbacks with injuries and the way that she fights to get back in shape is a real credit to her. Nick’s one of the most competitive people that I’ve ever met; then you add the skill and the speed that she possess (and) she becomes a very valuable asset.”

Now at the age of 27, Nicole is a key member of the Australian women’s sevens squad despite having survived more injury scares in 2014 and with a toddler to care for.

This week she will be carrying the flag of her nation, literally, as she leads the Australian contingent at the opening ceremony of the Pacific Games in Papua New Guinea. Perhaps even more importantly, she will be captaining a young and enthusiastic sevens side; a compilation side that Walsh has selected to make its mark in Port Moresby.

“It’s great to be named in the team for one and to get to represent Australia at the Pac Games; and then such an honour to captain the girls. I’ve never captained the sevens rugby (side) before, so I feel quite thrilled to take on that role.” Beck says.

And it’s a role that the coach believes Nicole is more than ready for.

“Even in the last week and a half, when this team has been training, she’s certainly accepted and thrived on that role. She’s stepped up to be the strong leader which we will require to get the result of a gold medal at this Pac Games,” Walsh says.

While the recruitment of youth in the Australian women’s squad has seemed to be a trend, with a logical and realistic view to building a succession plan, Walsh emphasises it is not a policy by any means.

As a reflection of this, Nicole Beck is a shining example of the rewards that hard work and determination can reap in achieving your goals and dreams, no matter the hurdles you face or the number of birthdays you’ve had.

Pacific Games: July 4-18.
Women’s Rugby Sevens competition: July 8-10.
Broadcast: NITV.