Claudia Nielsen's whirlwind rugby journey is set to continue this week with the Pirates star preparing to again lace up the boots on the national stage.
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Hot on the heels of an impressive debut Uni 7s series showing that has catapulted her onto the periphery of the national program, Nielsen will suit up for the newly-formed Presidents XV in this year's Super W competition.
They kick off their campaign at Coffs Harbour on Thursday, incidentally against the side the Calrossy alumnus has played with for the previous two editions - the Western Force.
Nielsen was picked up for the President's side after just missing the cut for the NSW Waratahs squad.
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A "bit of a wildcard mix", she believes if they can come together they can be competitive.
After relocating to Sydney at the start of the year, Nielsen has been playing with Sydney Uni this season. Predominantly playing in the Shute Shield women's 7s competition, in recent weeks she has been getting back into a bit of 15s.
On Saturday she scored the opening try for the Lionesses in their Jack Scott Cup win over the Western Sydney Two Blues.
It was her first start for the reigning champions having come off the bench in their previous two games.
She also had a run with Central North at the Country Championships in Tamworth, which was another first and a lot of fun.
"[Coach] Jeremy (Maslen) messaged me. I was super keen, just because a lot of the Pirates girls were playing," Nielsen said.
Only a couple of weeks out from the Super W, fortunately her coach Inge Visser was accommodating for that.
"She was really great, she said the more rugby the better," she said.
Nielsen added: "It was such a good opportunity to play more rugby."
"For me personally, where I'm at, the more footy the better."
There is a lot she is still learning, like when to inject herself.
But every game she said she is learning "new ways to get involved and make more of an impact".
Making an impact is something Nielsen has certainly been doing.
On the back of her performance for Sydney Uni during the Uni 7s series she was, despite missing two rounds with injury, selected to be involved with the national development squad.
"They made an AON dream team and those girls automatically are in the development squad, and then they picked another group and we're in tiers - gold, silver and bronze," she explained.
"I'm in the gold, which is cool."
Mostly training, there will also be opportunities to go into camp and train with the national squad.
"It's a good program to be part of in terms of if nothing comes out of it, at least you're on their radar and you get to train at their great facilities every now and then and with some really top sevens players," Nielsen said.
Nielsen has also been named in NSW Country Corellas team which includes Pirates' Rosie Ferguson and St Alberts' Tahlia Morgan.
There is also local representatives in the NSW Country Colts team with Pirates' Michael Purtle and St Alberts' Mark Green both chosen.
