Central North Rugby: Miah O'Sullivan makes unexpected Pirates return

Before COVID interjected the former Australian Youth 7s rep had been a notable addition to the Pirates women's 7s roster for the last couple of gala days after succumbing to temptation.

After coming home to Tamworth to recover from ankle surgery, O'Sullivan said she initially didn't have any intention of pulling on the gold and black again. She wanted to give her ankle "the best chance possible to heel".

"[But] I got a bit of FOMO (fear of missing out) once I started running, and helping out with the water for the girls," she said.

READ ALSO:

She had originally started out helping coach some of the club's junior girls sides.

Still in rehab when she commenced that, when she was able to start running she found herself staying back and training when she could with the senior side.

And invariably one thing led to another, culminating in O'Sullivan running out for her first game for Pirates since the 2019 minor semi-final, at the gala day at Bingara.

"I spoke to my physio and he more or less said see how you go," she said.

She initially picked up the injury - a posterior impingement - last August.

She initially picked up the injury last August.

Living on the Gold Coast at the time after moving up there to study a bachelor of communications majoring in journalism at Bond University and pursue rugby opportunities, it ruled her out of the back end of the Queensland Premier Rugby women's competition, which she was captaining Bond, in.

Fortunately she was able to get back onto the field to play in the Queensland women's XV select match.

She was also involved in the Queensland Academy of Sport Elite 7s program, travelling up from the Gold Coast three times a week for training.

The Queensland pathway program to the Aussie 7s squad, it was an insight into that elite level and a great experience.

The injury though continued to plague her so in March she went under the knife, and with university online and obviously no footy, decided to return home to Tamworth.

It has been a busy time. As well as studying and helping out with the juniors, O'Sullivan has also been working as a student learning support officer at Bullimbal.

"I've been doing casual stuff but have been offered five days until the end of the year," she said.

"I love it."

Part of the inaugural Pirates women's 7s side, she said it has been great coming back and seeing how much the program has flourished..

From at times just scraping together a full team for the seniors, there is now a pathway for girls from 13 right the way through.

"I think it's really great that we have something to build on," she said.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: