Sharni Williams, Ellia Green, Chloe Dalton, Jakiya Whitfeld, Rhiannon Byres in Jack Scott Cup

They had hoped to be celebrating winning a second Olympic gold medal in Tokyo today. Instead these Rugby Sevens guns are recovering from a club rugby match close to their Sydney homes.

Aussie 7s stars Ellia Green, Sharni Williams and Chloe Dalton after their run with the Ratettes in the Jack Scott Cup. Pic: Karen Watson.

• Shute Shield Rd 3 wrap: Roastings, close calls
• NSW Swifts ranked: who made the cut?

Right now, in a pre-COVID world, Australian Rugby Sevens great Sharni Williams and her teammates had hoped to be celebrating winning back-to-back gold medal for Australia at the Tokyo Olympics.

In reality, Williams is recovering from her first game of rugby 15s since the 2017 World Cup with a couple of teammates from the Aussie sevens program.

Like numerous members of the Australian men’s sevens team who are now playing in the Shute Shield club rugby premiership, leading women have also been released by their programs to play some footy.

Australia’s top sevens players are now spotted throughout the Jack Scott Cup.

THANKS MATE: How Facebook helped this players rugby career

HULKING: The Two Blues player out for impact

The move, due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on world sport and postponement of the Tokyo Olympics until 2021, saw Williams make her debut for the Warringah Ratettes in the Jack Scott Cup on the northern beaches on the weekend.

“The bright side of all this is getting back to grassroots and the community of rugby,” said Williams, who grew up in Canberra but now resides at Newport and is a longtime Warringah supporter.

“It’s good to get some game time.”

Sharni Williams on her way to scoring at the Rio Olympic Games. Australia ended up winning a historic gold medal.

While the women’s Rugby Sevens program has recently received a $2.2m funding boost following the postponement of the Tokyo Olympics until next year, players are still only part time.

“We train Monday Wednesday and Friday, we are only on 40 per cent pay so our time is restricted,” Williams said.

Williams joined fellow Sevens stars Ellia Green and Chloe Dalton in pulling on the Warringah jersey on Saturday and helping the Ratettes to a 26-12 win over Easts.

MANLY: Youngster out to make big impression

EASTWOOD: League guns son making own mark

Aussie 7’s women in Jack Scott Cup

Warringah: Sharni Williams, Chloe Dalton and Ellia Green

Sydney University: Jakiya Whitfeld

Randwick: Rhiannon Byres, Demi Hayes and Cassie Staples

Southern Districts: Emma Tonegato

#Playing Manly 7s is Faith Nathan and Sariah Paki