They were hard-crusted Magpies.

But at the time Tamworth didn't have a women's side. If they did, she probably would have been running around in the black and white rather than the gold and black.

As it is, Ferguson is one of Pirates' remaining inaugural members after joining up with best friend Miah O'Sullivan.

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Both were big touch footballers but it had "kind of died down" with the introduction of oztag.

Not really keen on oztag, and inspired watching the Aussie women's 7s side win Olympic gold, they thought they'd give rugby 7s a crack.

Neither has really looked back. Last year Ferguson was a central figure as Pirates won their first women's silverware.

This season she has stepped up to the captaincy, and will have the honour this weekend of leading the combined Central North/New England side in their Country Championship campaign in Tamworth.

She will start at fullback and be joined by Pirates team-mates Shae Partridge, Jillian Mooney, Nicola Robinson and Lara De Jong. Former Pirate Claudia Neilsen will also suit up in the red and white after being granted permission by her Presidents XV Super W coach to play.

If not for COVID though, Ferguson would probably be living in Sydney and suiting up for Northern Suburbs in the Sydney women's competition.

The 20-year old moved down there in 2019 to study a bachelor of business majoring in marketing, and bachelor of communications in public relations through the University of Western Sydney.

"Leaving high school I always wanted to do a business degree, but I also enjoyed writing so decided to combine them," Ferguson said.

But when the pandemic hit and she lost her job, she decided to move back to Tamworth.

Currently working at the Pig and Tinder, the plan is to stick around for the season and head back to Sydney towards the end of the year.

Coming back last year, Ferguson said it was great to see so many young girls that she knew as 14 and 15-year-olds now playing in the women's competition and the way they developed and grew in confidence over the season.

The Kookaburras face Hunter in their opening game at 11.30 at Scully Park.

Kookaburras v Hunter: 1 KaraLaini Raichebe (Gunnedah), 2 Simone Lickorish (Gunnedah), 3 Torika Nadruku (Gunnedah), 4 Jillian Mooney (Pirates), 5 Alexandra Long (Gunnedah), 6 Bridgette Madigan (St Alberts, 7 Josie Coddington (Armidale Blues), 8 Kate O'Donnell (Gunnedah), 9 Georgia O'Neille (St Alberts), 10 Lara deJong (Pirates), 11 Stephie Lennon (Gunnedah), 12 Tahlia Morgan (St Alberts), 13 Clare Harpley (St Alberts), 14 Shae Partridge (Pirates), 15 Rosie Ferguson (Pirates). 16 Alana Dunne (Barbarians), 17 KIrsty McArthur (Gunnedah), 18 Aimee Middlemiss (Barraba-Gwydir), 19 Brianna Mack (Barraba-Gwydir), 20 Katelyn Hall (St Alberts), 21 Charlotte Goldman (St Alberts), 22 Megan Groenewald (St Alberts), 23 Nicola Robinson (Pirates), 24 Claudia Neilsen (Pirates), 25 Rebecca Smythe (Gunnedah).

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