Moree's Ash Walker is a step closer to realising her dream of representing her country after being named in the Wallaroos squad for next week's national camp in Canberra.
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The Melbourne Rebels and Newcastle Wildfires star is one of 16 debutants in the training squad, which will convene at the Australian Institute of Sport on December 1 as the Wallaroos continue their preparations for next year's Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.
It caps off what has been a breakout year for the 22-year old.
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In April, and in her debut season in the competition, she was voted by the rugby public (through RUGBY.com.au) as the Super W Player of the Year.
Then earlier this month she was part of the NSW Country women's side that won their maiden Chikarovski Cup.
The camp will run through to December 6, and will be Wallaroos head coach Dwayne Nestor said a "huge opportunity" for Walker and some of the other young players in the squad to really stand up ahead of what is going to be a massive 2021.
"We have been adaptive in a challenging 2020, but we have still seen some really good quality Rugby through Buildcorp Super W, our club competitions, the Queensland Select match and the Chikarovski Cup which has allowed us to really see some of these young players coming through," Nestor said.
"We have also had a few injuries to some of our core players from last year and we have opted to let them continue their rehab in their respective states, which allows us to look at a few more people".
"The hard work continues in Canberra and I know the whole squad is looking forward to re-connecting after so many virtual sessions."
2020 Buildcorp Wallaroos training squad Iliseva Batibasaga, NSW Waratahs Emily Chancellor, NSW Waratahs Georgia Cormick, Melbourne RebelsLori Cramer, Queensland RedsPiper Duck*, NSW Waratahs Georgina Freidrichs*, NSW Waratahs Anita Faimasui-Brown*, NSW Waratahs Aleena Greenhalgh*, Queensland RedsGrace Hamilton (c), NSW Waratahs Ariana Hira-Herangi, Rugby WA Eva Karpani, NSW Waratahs Grace Kemp*, BrumbiesAtasi Lafai, NSW Waratahs Michaela Leonard, Brumbies Ashlee Makim*, NSW WaratahsNareta Marsters*, Queensland RedsArabella McKenzie, NSW WaratahsAveryl Mitchell, Queensland RedsLillyann Mason*, NSW Waratahs Jemima McCalman*, NSW Waratahs Tiarah Minns*, Melbourne Rebels Layne Morgan*, NSW Waratahs Gabby Peterson*, Brumbies Pauline Pilae*, NSW Waratahs Trilleen Pomare, Rugby WA Hilisha Samoa, Queensland Reds Oneata Schwalger, NSW Waratahs Christina Sekona, Queensland Reds Cecilia Smith*, Queensland RedsTayla Stanford*, Brumbies Maya Stewart*, NSW Waratahs Ashleigh Walker*, Melbourne Rebels