The COVID pandemic might have turned Claudia Nielsen's life upside down but it has also brought some nice and unexpected surprises.
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Finding herself back in Tamworth for much longer than she expected, Nielsen embraced the opportunity to get back involved in the local sporting scene and has been savouring plenty of success.
On Saturday she capped off her first season of 7s rugby with a premiership, leading Pirates to their first women's 7s title with a comprehensive win over Glen Innes.
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"It's pretty special for us, and all the girls even in the comp, just to get some footy games in because it's been one of those seasons where it was touch and go," Nielsen said post match.
"And we worked so hard in the weirdest pre-season we've had, so to come out on top is just an extra little icing on the cake."
The Rugby WA Super Rugby rep was instrumental in Pirates dominance throughout the season.
After making her mark with four tries in the opening round, she went on to finish the leading point scorer for the competition and turn plenty of heads.
But it's just on the rugby field where Nielsen has been showcasing her sporting talents. She also dusted off her stick and suited up for Olympians in the local first grade hockey competition.
Four years since she had last donned the royal and sky blue, Nielsen was a consistently strong performer for them and adjudged the best and fairest player for the competition.
Very much a surprise, it was a nice bonus.
"I actually wasn't even going to play hockey at all, because I was just going to do rugby this season," she said.
"And then I was home and spoke to [Olympians president] Bec Davidson."
Where it all really started for her she really enjoyed the season.
Much as was the case with Pirates they were a young side, and she said it was great to see the way they stepped up and grew over the season.
Not that long ago, that was her.
Self-deprecatingly describing herself back in her former Olympians days as "just a crappy little striker up the front" in what was "a pretty good team", Nielsen said playing in Perth really improved her hockey.
Representative recognition has come with that.
Part of the Australian under-21s indoor hockey side that toured Russia last year, she has also played for Western Australia at both the field and indoor national championships.
